#i need more suki and yue now

[hauntingblue]

Jee and zuko reconciliation episode I guess

[tobiasdrake]

*deep breath* Okay. Here we go.

I don't think the Netflix Avatar show likes women very much. It's a great show for fans of Aang, Sokka, Zuko, and Iroh specifically. All four of those characters get a ton of great material. In fact, it's super great for Sokka stans, because the show takes him ultra-seriously and can't go five minutes without one character or another (usually a woman) praising him.

But the way it handles its female cast is troublesome.

Katara

So, all three of the main trio got some changes made to their stories. They changed Aang's story so that he wasn't running away from his responsibilities; He was just clearing his head and somehow accidentallied himself into a tsunami. Whoopsy-dooodle. Aang did nothing wrong.

They changed Sokka's story so that him being a leader of his people and a great guardian warrior is treated with complete seriousness. Multiple times, characters stop to talk about how brave and noble Sokka is for taking on such an intense responsibility, and tell him to his face what a great warrior and a wonderful leader he is. Also his misogyny is erased.

And they changed Katara's story so that she directly got her mom killed because she sucks at waterbending.

Katara tries to waterbend to attack the Fire Nation soldier but couldn't manage it, provoking the soldier to start actively searching for her and forcing her mom to fake a waterbending attack and draw his fire. They changed Katara's story so that her bad decision making fucking got her mom killed.

This is treated with the same level of severity as "Sokka was bullied by mean kids and also his dad doesn't think he's good enough to be a leader."

"I hoped Sokka would do better but not everyone is meant to have people's lives in their hands," Sokka's dad says of him.

Yeah, you're right, that's totally comparable to watching your mom get barbecued because you tried to waterbend in a situation you shouldn't have and then failed.

In fact, they give Sokka's greatest trauma more weight because it gets examined again with Yue next episode, while Katara actively getting her mom killed isn't brought up again at all. We get traumatized glimpses of it throughout the season leading up to the reveal, but after this scene in episode 5, it never comes up again.

But to be fair, Katara was a child. An event this significant would surely have motivated her, driving her to become the great waterbender she is now, right?

No! Katara sucks at waterbending and needs men who aren't even waterbenders to teach her how to waterbend. She requires instruction from Aang in episode 1 to learn how to waterbend, then from Jet in episode 3 to learn how to waterbend better.

And unlike the show, her relationship with Aang isn't a give-and-take; Katara doesn't teach Aang a single goddamn thing. He never learns to waterbend. She is a strictly a pupil throughout the whole season. Though she at least gets officially labeled a master in episode 8, so there's that.

In any case, the whole traumatic memory thing isn't even the only time she's directly compared with Sokka. Episodes 3 and 4 see Katara and Sokka bicker over whose morally dubious side character is better. Sokka likes the Mechanist and Katara likes Jet.

Ultimately, Katara is forced to eat crow when Jet turns out to be the worst, while Sokka is vindicated when the Mechanist sees the error of his ways and reforms. But not before two separate arguments where Sokka calls Katara childish and accuses her of acting like a little girl.

Arguments ultimately resolved when Katara apologizes to Sokka for not adequately respecting his very serious and ultra important role as village protector and leader. Gives him a whole speech about how great and glorious he is. And Sokka... appreciates Katara learning to respect him properly, I guess, because he never offers any similar sentiments back to her.

The show just... They need you to know how important Sokka is, okay? It's very important that you respect Sokka.

Suki

Suki suffers tremendously from that whole "Sokka's misogyny was removed" thing. Y'know, because they need something else to do with that episode. The show is deeply aware that Suki is Sokka's love interest, so they just do that right off the bat. Suki falls madly in love with him from the moment they meet, and spends the entire episode making goo-goo eyes and trying to get him to Notice Me Senpai.

They still do the "Suki Trains Sokka" stuff. But Sokka is a serious, dignified manly man worthy of the deepest respect now, so of course they don't make him wear the Kyoshi uniform. Instead, the main purpose of his training is to allow them to flirt some more. It's less martial arts training and more an excuse to grope each other and near-kiss.

Suki's just a waifu now. She still fights real good, but all of the stuff that made her relationship with Sokka interesting has been erased.

Yue

Yue, similarly, leaps straight to shipping from the word go. They write out her fiance, Hahn, by having Yue briefly meet Sokka earlier in the season. She spends one minute talking to him in the Spirit World about Spirit World lore; In that time, she falls so desperately, madly, unfathomably in love with him that she breaks off her marriage to Hahn and devotes herself to waiting for him to one day come to her.

"Never have I known such joys as that time you let me explain the spirit bear Hei Bei to you. Truly, we are destined to be together for life."

Like with Suki, they go out of their way to have Yue and Sokka already be a ship from the word 'go' so they don't have to spend time developing any kind of meaningful attraction.

They just. They really want you to know that Sokka is the manliest and most desirable man ever to walk this earth. It is very important that you understand how great he is. Women hurl themselves into his arms with zero effort whatsoever, because he's just so goddamn irresistible.

Fortunately, Hahn is super okay with this turn of events. He's the most chill guy ever, he gets along perfectly well with Sokka, and he completely supports Yue's right to dump him! In the famously misogynistic Northern Water Tribe, no less! What a swell guy. Aren't men swell?

June

June gets hit with that "rewritten as hollow waifu" stick too, but her eyes are set on Iroh. They rewrote June to be super attracted and flirty towards the man who was her unwanted sexual harasser in the source material. So that's fun.

Also, she barely does anything. Zuko hires her to find Aang, she succeeds, and then she fucks right off out of the show - But she manages to find time to express how unbelievably sexy Iroh is twice during that time.

She seriously just dropped into the show to flirt with Iroh and leave. She is unbelievably inconsequential.

Kyoshi

And then there's Kyoshi. They really want you to hate Kyoshi. She's constantly shot from below, as if looking down on Aang and the audience. Her voice takes on a demonic echoing reverb at one point as she's screaming at Aang that "THE AVATAR MUST BE A MERCILESS WARRIOR!!!"

She despises Aang, calling him a coward for running away from his responsibilities - Which, I remind you, is no longer a plot point because they unwrote that flaw from his character. So she's just a complete and utter asshole, shot from the asshole angle, yelling violently at him with asshole sound effects. They want you to despise this woman.

Azula

Awkwardly, they do not seem to want you to despise Azula.

There's a lot to be said for how Ozai treats Azula in the original show. The way the favoritism he shows her is every bit as cruel and manipulative as the unfavoritism that he shows Zuko. Ozai does not love Azula. He loves the reflection of himself he sees in her eyes, and his encouragement urges her to polish herself to ensure his reflection always shines through.

This is not that. The show instead erases the favoritism entirely. Ozai doesn't really care one way or another about either of his kids. He plays them against each other, bragging openly to Azula about how great Zuko is and unpleasably writing Azula off as weak and useless.

They've rewritten the dynamic between abusive father and his two abused kids in order to take Azula's pride away. Reimagining her from a gifted prodigy who excels at imitating the toxic behaviors of a father who doesn't truly care for her, to a put-upon overachiever tearing herself in knots to live up to the standards of her unpleasable father.

This results in a truly wild portrayal of Azula as insecure and jealous of Ozai's seemingly love for Zuko. Here, she is simply a browbeaten child constantly complaining to her friends about how mean her father is and conspiring to get one up over Daddy's Golden Child Zuko.

Which she fails at, because she backs Zhao. Zuko deftly defeats her without even realizing they're in competition.

Conclusion

The season ends well for some of these women. It ends promising that maybe we'll see Katara teaching Aang some day. It ends with Zhao bragging that Ozai just used Zuko to train Azula so maybe we'll see the more confident and misguidedly proud Azula some day. Yue becomes the moon like she's supposed to. June's still out there so maybe she'll get to do something again some day.

Katara gets to fight Pakku and lose, but she looks pretty cool. She gets to fight Zuko and lose, but she looks pretty cool. Azula learns to lightningbend because she's just so mad about Ozai's contempt for her and favoritism for Zuko, which isn't how you lightningbend.

But promises of future content fall flat when the content that exists is so underwhelming. This season made its feelings on these characters pretty evident, and it's unwise to expect better material from creators who've disappointed you with the material they already made.

The women of Netflix Avatar simply do not get to shine, outside of superficial moments like the "Women of Northern Water Tribe demand the right to fight and then fuck off and don't do anything for the entire rest of the episode" bit.

"In the midst of battle, we demand that you stop being sexist and give us permission to fight! This is a way better idea than convincing you to teach us to fight before the battle begins."

The characters of this show feel as if they've been reimagined to glorify the boys at the expense of the girls. The boys are treated with a great amount of care. They're dignified and made important movers of the plot, with their rough edges sanded off. While the girls are molded around them.

[bookdragonideas]

Here's the thing. I'm a girl, and as a girl, I really like it when girls are portrayed in fiction. Especially fantasy.

But so much fiction/fantasy mixes up 'girls' with 'unstoppable forces of female badass' and there's not necessarily anything wrong with having a character who is an 'unstoppable forces of female badass'. But it gets old real quick. And it is not the same as portraying normal girls, or having good female characters.

And that's one of the many reasons I love Avatar the Last Airbender.

Because all the girl characters have flaws and weaknesses and sometimes act like idiots or jerks. They get emotional and make mistakes. They lose fights or arguments or are just wrong sometimes. Some of them are amazing warriors, and some aren't. Some are powerful or special and some are normal, with nothing special about them.

And I Love that.

I was around the same age as Katara when I first watched Atla. And I instantly connected with her as a character. I loved her optimistic attitude and her fighting spirit. And I could relate with her anger, and with her maternal instinct. I admired her fighting skills of course, but I loved how the show portrayed her compassion and kindness, the way she could both beat up a bunch of bullies AND enjoy a relaxing day at the spa. She was a baddass warrior that should never be crossed. But she was also a normal teenage girl who had a lot of the same internal struggles and problems that I did.

(I never connected to Toph on the same level, but I did relate to her on a few things. She's an adorable trash gremlin who would commit any crime for fun and I love that. But she struggles with being both independent and letting people help her, and I still struggle with that sometimes. I've learned that sometimes, you can help others by letting them help you.)

Yue is, in my opinion, a perfect example of a type of hero that seems to be disappearing. She is not a warrior. She is not a fighter. She's not even a bender.

Yue is a perfect princess, a perfect daughter. She is extremely feminine in a rather older sense.

And she was the only one who could save the world. She gave up everything for her people. She saved everything, everyone, the entire world. Without ever becoming a fighter.

Yue is a perfect example of a girl who was never more than a girl, and how that's okay. Not every girl has to be rough and tumble and fight for her rights in order to change everything. Sometimes it's okay to just be a quiet obedient girly girl. Sometimes that's all it takes to be a hero.

And I love that. Yue is strong in her own way. She is unique and interesting. She appears in only a few episodes and yet manages to be one of my favorite characters.

Song is another great example of this. Song is a healer in a small town. We don't see much of her but we see her compassion and empathy. She is gentle and generous. A healer not a fighter.

She watches Zuko steal her ostrich horse and does nothing.

Is that because she's kind and generous and knows he needs it more? Or is it because she's a healer girl who knows she can't actually stop those two from taking the horse? Maybe neither, maybe both. I have always thought that the scene where Zuko steals the horse and only the audience knows she saw it is one of the most thought-provoking in the series.

Suki is a badass warrior woman who is an awesome fighter and good leader. She is one of the best non bender fighter we see in the entire show. She was one of the smartest, most efficient, and powerful characters we ever saw.

She kissed a boy she had just met because she thought he was cute.

Now don't get me wrong I love SokkaxSuki. Its one of the best couples in the show.

But Suki totally did the old 'love at first sight' thing. And that is awesome. Because when she kisses him she delivers one of the best lines, not only from her, but, I think, in the entire show.

"I AM a warrior, but I'm a girl too."

Being a warrior doesn't mean that she isn't also a teenage girl. She might be a fighter, but she still gets crushes and likes to flirt with cute boys. And hey, she picked a good one. Not every boy is going to come break you out of prison.

Anyways, let's have more realistic girls in fiction. And please enjoy the next 24 hours.

[spirantization]

I'm surprised at the hate that Sokka's character arc from NATLA is receiving. To me, Sokka's development and characterization was one of the strongest adaptations the series made.

In the original ATLA, Sokka's character arc revolves around him unlearning his own misogyny. He makes pointedly sexist comments throughout the early episodes like "Leave it to a girl to screw things up!", "There's no way a bunch of girls took us down!", etc.

Sokka's comments have a strong narrative purpose: they give a platform for women in the show (Katara & Suki mostly) to refute his attitude. Katara emphasizes traditional "women's work" (cleaning, cooking, sewing, etc), which forces Sokka to confront its inherent value. Suki is able to prove to him that women can fight too and he learns to respect female warriors. It's a great character arc and it's well-executed.

It's also characterization that is in direct response to the culture and feminism of the 90s and early 00s. The representation of women in the media at that time was...oof. It was not great. One-dimensional love interests whose only purpose is being saved by the male protagonist, mostly. Female protagonists were not as common, and certainly not ones who were depicted as being able to fight, and certainly not in cartoons. Female protagonists in animation were almost exclusively princesses.

ATLA was progressive in this regard. Katara was a complex female character in a time when there were not a lot of them, in media in general but especially in animation and kid's shows. (I grew up in the 90s; there were no characters like Katara in animation on screen for me.) ATLA incorporated the zeitgeist directly into the story, which is why we have Sokka learning to overcome his sexism in his interactions with Strong Female Characters.

If you go back and watch the original cartoon now, Sokka's sexism feels a bit dated. It's a very 90s, Girl Power, "girls can fight too" style of social commentary. It doesn't match with the media landscape of today. We've got 20 years of media with female superheroes behind us. If your message is "girls can fight too!" the response for the most part is going to be "yes, we know that. And?"

So imagine you're adapting the original ATLA for a live-action remake. You want to keep Sokka's character arc intact, but you want to update it for the 2020s. So what do you do? You look at the conversations that are happening today.

The 90s were about "girls can do everything boys can do", but the 20s are over that. The conversation is more about gender: gender expression, gender roles, gender dynamics. What does is mean to be a woman? What does it mean to be a man?

Sokka's character arc in NATLA is focused on this question: What does it mean to be a man? At the beginning of the series, it's his identity as a warrior that defines him. He needs to be the warrior, the protector, the leader. He's constantly trying to reaffirm this part of his identity, and it's completely tied up in his perception of his value as a man. Instead of his interactions with Suki being about "how could girls possibly be warriors", it shifts to Sokka saying "I'm ALSO a warrior" and trying to justify that to Suki (and mostly himself).

His arc over the series is about him accepting other aspects of himself and relearning how to define his masculinity. He can still have value as man without being the greatest warrior. He can still have value as a man by using his skills as an engineer. He can still have value as a man by offering compassion and kindness to others, like the little girl with the doll & Yue in her final moments. Instead of rigidly defining himself by a specific set of gender roles & expectations, he learns how to define himself through his own strengths and qualities.

I know there are a lot of people who are upset at this change to Sokka's characterization, and the most common thing I see is that it results in changes to Katara's character and her anger in response to Sokka's comments. I think there are valid criticisms to be made about how the show handled the adaptation of Katara's character, but I won't go there with this. In terms of Sokka and his characterization, it was well-done and thematically consistent with the original. It's not an exact port, and it never needed to be. It's still a feminist arc that centres on unlearning harmful misogynistic worldviews, but the focus has shifted from external (roles of women) to internal (his role as a man). And his journey is one that people would benefit from seeing represented.

[luminousdryad]

to make things brief cause I suck at organizing what I have to say, the live action was definitely Something™.

Cast: 10/10 kinda biased personally but yall can't take this from me

Gordon as Aang and Dallas as Zuko were the standouts imo. Gordon needs some direction on line delivery and the angstier scenes but overall he's very charming and I'm so proud of him for getting so much exposure!

Ian as Sokka was great, I just wish he was allowed to be more...messy? like Sokka pretends to be chill and all that but he's actually dramatic so I hope that gets improved in the next season if there is one

speaking of improvement, Kiawentiio as Katara brought out a softer side to the character but sadly diminished her spark and passion. I like that Katara now actually feels like a younger sister, it makes sense within the context of the story that Sokka and Gran Gran would shelter her after what happened, but as someone said, her anger is so central to her character and I just wish that got shown more. It's more of a script and direction problem tbh, if you look at Kia's interviews she has the sass and feistiness Katara needs

Lizzy as Azula is great, the writing is a bit clunky though so she did the best she could with it. Can't really comment on Mai and Ty Lee yet because they're kinda just there but it's a nice setup

Maria as Suki? perfection show stopping never the same she is a queen and I love the tidbit of Suki backstory which she never really had in the og show. I love her being such a loser around her crush we love to see girlfailures girlfailing. I wish the writers didn't make them KISS though 😭 slowburn ftw

the adults were great

Writing: 6.5/10

There were genuinely good moments and I love the concept of mixing up certain plot points to condense the story

But they just suffered from too much Telling instead of Showing WRITERS PLEASE LISTEN TO THE CRITICISM YOU HAVE TIME TO IMPROVE PLEASE

Omashu, mechanist, and Jet plot mixing as a concept was fine, but it dragged on and my friends and I got bored of it. I like it in theory but if it was going to take THAT long couldn't they have just separated one of those storylines for a different episode?

I appreciate that they tried to develop the water siblings' relationship by making them the stars of the Secret Tunnels, but I would've changed the way they "conquered" the problem (really? badgermoles respond to love? cute in theory but like why). If anyone's watched Barbie: A Fairy Secret there's a part where Barbie and her frenemy accuse each other of why their friendship failed, and it helps them make up and breaks the curse put on them. So that's what I would've done, force them in a life or death situation in which they have to say the unsaid things, maybe hug it out and boom

The way they handled Koh and the Spirit World was a Mess™ but the effects were decent

Zhao meeting horrible ends in every incarnation is so deserved

Yue having more agency was a welcome change AND I LOVE THAT SHE WATERBENDS. Then waterbends even when the moon is gone. It's such a nice visual nod to the fact that she has the moon spirit within her

That said, the show could definitely use more visual storytelling, less weird dialogue. Like it's so strangely common for shows or adaptations these days to exposition dump. Like they did not have to make Yue say that the ocean spirit was angry, literally just show me the dead moon fish and I'll get the idea. Then Iroh says "That's Wrath" that's just redundant now isn't it

I like that they saved Katara bringing Aang out of the Avatar State until last even if it could've been done better

HOW DARE THEY MAKE ME LIKE HAHN HE WAS A JERK IN THE SHOW BUT THEY MADE HIM A GENUINELY GOOD CHARACTER. Yes to brown men not being portrayed as jerks but also in the original it was a nice contrast to how far Sokka had come because Hahn reflected who he used to be. But live action Hahn </3

I like that they showed the deaths and blood. I wanted a live action that was both lighthearted but more realistic when it came to the injuries and death, and that'd kind of what I got

Other thoughts + overall

You can tell they put so much heart into this show, watching the bts, the bending boot camp with the correct martial arts, the easter eggs, the nods to the comics, the beautiful adaptations of Cabbage Merchant and Secret Tunnel nomads, there's so much passion behind the show it's a shame it suffered in its writing

which is why if they read reviews and criticism from the bigger name fans (TheAvatarist, HelloFutureMe, etc.) it would really help them improve for future seasons! The cast is stunning already and they have great chemistry (hopefully gets improved too!)

The live action is just a different angle to the show. And I'm saying this as an Avatar fan–the original wasn't perfect, either. I had some problems w it but the overall show was genuinely so good and heartfelt, those problems weren't glaring enough to put me off (unlike The Dragon Prince, sorry). The live action definitely wasn't perfect, but it tried to give us a new look into Avatar. Again, no adaptation will ever be a 1:1 remake and none should be. Where's the fun in that? But while the show is so full of heart and with actual fans working behind the scenes, I doubt if they listen to any criticism that they can't pull this off better next season.

[burst-of-iridescent]

Hi! First I want to say I love your Zutara dissertation. I was in a convo with a friend who said they don’t like Zutara because it hurts Zuko’s arc. I then linked them to part two of your dissertation where you explain how Zuko and Katara getting together would strengthen their arcs and the themes of the show. They then replied, “I see all these points. I just think this can be done via friendship. I think the idea that Zuko heals the world via friendships fits the show more since friendship played a bigger role then love stories.” Do you have any rebuttal argument for this that I can show them?

please give my commiserations to your friend for the frustration they must have felt when avatar: the last airbender ended with a grand romantic kiss because naturally, the all-important question of the finale was whether the hero finally got the girl after spending three seasons suffering in the friendzone. i'm sure your friend, being such a proponent of the importance of friendship over romance, must be just as critical of kat.aang in the finale as they are of a potential zutara relationship (and if they aren't, then you know where this argument is coming from and it's certainly not a place of legitimate media analysis.)

but on the off-chance that we're dealing with that rare breed of zutara anti that isn't a raging hypocrite: i fail to see why there's this weird dichotomy being made between platonic and romantic love at all. what exactly is wrong with zuko healing the world with both friendship AND romance? his platonic bonds with sokka, toph, aang and suki don't suddenly cease to exist just because he's dating katara, so why are we acting as if it's only one or the other?

atla is a story about the power of friendship, yes, but more than that it's a story about the the power of love. love for your family, blood and chosen. love for your friends. love for your countrymen. love for strangers, for enemies, for humanity. at its core, atla is centred around love in all of its varied forms - and yes, that includes romantic love.

or are we saying that sokka's love for yue, katara's romance with jet, sokka's relationship with suki, zuko's feelings for jin all had absolutely no bearing on their individual character arcs and the overall plot of the show? even kat.aang and mai.ko, badly written as they are, were important to aang and zuko's arcs in helping them realize the people they were truly meant to be (at least, before the finale fucked it up).

i, and many other zutara shippers, have always said that we'd have been fine with atla ending with no canonical romances, or with only a hint of zutara. i wouldn't replace the kat.aang kiss in the finale with a zutara one, even if it made more narrative sense, because i agree that romantic love was definitely not the point of atla - but that doesn't mean that it had no significant role to play at all.

given that your friend seems fine with zuko and katara's friendship, i'd love to hear why said friendship turning into a romance would suddenly be detrimental to zuko's arc. was sokka's arc about unlearning his misogyny ruined because he eventually entered a relationship with suki? was suki being inspired by sokka to take a more active role in the war undercut because she became his girlfriend? if not, then why would the zutara dynamic be the only one negatively affected just because they can kiss now?

zuko is a character who is fundamentally defined by love. his love for his people kickstarts his entire character arc. his love for his mother, and her love for him, is integral in reminding him to stay true to who he is. iroh's fatherly love guides him to the path of redemption. the gaang's platonic love, and the love he holds for them in return, gives him the confidence and support he needs to fulfill his destiny. so romantic love, the right kind of romantic love (and notably the only kind zuko never truly receives in the show) would only add to zuko's character - not take away from it.

[magicaljarofbeans]

ATLA Live-Action Series

So.

I just finished the season, and there are some good things, and... some bad things :|

I have purposefully not engaged with what the rest of the internet think about it since it came out so keep that in mind. All I know is that it's not been well received and people hate the acting (all from other people telling me in person rather than me looking it up).

Let's start with what I consider the good bits:

Sokka is funny

Iroh is amazing as always

Zuko is pretty good, but specifically amazing with Iroh

Admiral Zhao is even more detestable

The bending looks pretty good (minus the ice sledding)

Iroh's backstory made me cry like the animated series (it's the goddamn music ok!)

The cabbage man makes an appearance

Firelord Ozai is cast and acted well

Suki is great

Ok, I think that's probably the extent of the actually good. Now for the absolute wreck that is the issues:

The removed Sokka's misogyny, a key aspect of his character development

Aang isn't running away from his duties as the Avatar (and doesn't at the start either), despite it being a key character trait he works through. However, everyone is gaslighting him into thinking he has been?

Katara and Aang are simply not acted well. They are the youngest cast members, but it's incredibly forced and not really written well to begin with.

Katara has become Gandhi. Well, is trying to be. She just keeps blurting out inspirational messages and not saying much else.

THEY CHANGED THE ORDER OF EVENTS. This doesn't have to be an issue, but it is when it's done in a way where story-lines no longer make sense. i.e. Sokka meets Suki before they go to the northern water tribe and meet Yue. Basically Sokka kinda cheated on Suki and just doesn't care. (There are several more examples of this)

Aang literally doesn't bend a single drop of water himself. As in, NOTHING (giant water monster doesn't count)

Katara and Aang don't end up getting trained at the Northern Water Tribe. Like. At all.

Katara is labelled a "Master Waterbender" and now has to train Aang???? Ummm, what?

Aang can just fly now. Glider don't glide, it fly. It woosh over continent in a single day!

That brings me to, WHAT EVEN IS TIME. Apparently going from a small village in the middle of nowhere to Roku's temple in the middle of the Fire Nation takes a day by glider (Katara and Sokka were just sleeping and weren't for long enough to worry about food or water)

Ozai is happy to sacrifice half his navy to "distract them while we take Omashu". Which is so far away from the Northern Water Tribe that the distraction wasn't needed.

It's Book 2 with Book 1's ending?????

The old people are clearly young guys with old age makeup. Apparently they can't get older guys anymore? (Except Iroh :)

Aang keeps talking to the previous Avatars but not actually getting anything out of it.

Apparently he has to be at a temple to talk to the past Avatars now.

Azula is introduced prior to the Northern Water Tribe fight

We see Ozai's face. It removes the mystery and power behind his presence

What is up with Jet? He's now a bomb placing terrorist. Not too far from accurate but still

Oh and his base sucks. Literally only like 2 meters off the ground at most.

I'm sure I have forgotten some atrocities, and there are several things that are ok that I haven't mentioned (Momo and Appa look fine) but overall, it's fine, I've watched worse shows, but it's not that great. Just watch it for Iroh.

[princess-of-the-corner]

In regards to Miraculous Gaang animals:

-Sokka: I was thinking just Captain Beetle, especially since it sounds vaguely close to Captain Boomerang, which is an appropriate title for Sokka but also not because it's also the name of a DC villain who killed Tim Drake's dad (and it doesn't have ladybug theming). I definitely think use Captain though, because I am now attached to Sokka having Cap as a nickname.

-Katara: So there are actually several species of big cats that like and excel in the water. One of them is the jaguar, and black jaguars do exist. Jaguars also have lots of night and water symbolism associated with them. I'm not the best with names, but I think Midnight Jaguar, Black Jaguar, Painted Jaguar, or maybe Inky Jaguar could all work for her. (Also, look up fishing cats. They're useless for this au because they don't come in black, but they're a cross between otters and bobcats and they're insane).

-Suki: ML got it right here actually because very many species of vipers are blue or teal, so I'd stick with that. For some reason my brain is getting stuck on Viperious (instead of imperious), but some other half baked options could he Velvet Viper, Silk Viper, or Vypertime (instead of hypertime),

-Zuko: Seriyu is the blue dragon spirit of Japan that represents the east and springtime. Spring represents new beginnings which is fitting for Zuko, and could provide a fun connection/contrast with Iroh's whole Dragon of the West thing. Otherwise I got nothing.

-Toph: I like the Blind Tiger too much to come up with anything else, lol. My brain said "yup that's perfect the naming machine is now off for her." Sorry if you were hoping for more options.

-Azula: I think her blue flames are significant, so I think basing her off an arctic fox, a silver fox, a blue morph fox, or maybe even a cross fox. Actually, yeah screw it, cross fox Azula. Duality, being split between red and dark gray/blue coloring as she's conflicted with her loyalty to Ozai/the fire nation and her own unique individual wants and needs. Being part blue connects her to Blue Dragon!Zuko too. I'm thinking that her costume is similar to the one in the show but if it was more flowy and elegant and less armory and intimidating. So like, the layered panels thing she has going on can stay, but more thick cloth traveling layers and less rigid armor. Instead of the big leather flaps she has like a poncho or a shawl. She's already got the cross fox coloring motif of big black middle panel and red side panels, and we obviously have to add her skirt tunic being pulled back into a coat tail. Keep the loose pants and the pointed boots for the theatre vibes. I'm thinking her mask is sort of like a masquerade/theatrical fox mask that covers the whole top half of her face and has fox ears but leaves the bottom open. Names. . .uh? Yeah I'm bad with these. Vixen?

-Yue: Also nothing, so sorry.

-Jin: Homegirl appears in one episode, we can go hog wild with her (pun intended) and do whatever we want. I'm thinking basing her off a wild boar and not a farm pig. I want her whole "chipper jubilant" hero thing to be more "Feral joy that one gets from running through an open windy feild at night and screaming at the top of their lungs." I like the idea of keeping her spiky, messy, wild hair in her costume. Like, let that go nuts. Pigella also has ballet inspo, so I think Jin should get, like, festival revelry dancing inspired costume and makeup, but also in more muted earthy tones. Names. . .maybe Babirusa? Type of Indonesian wild boar. My only other ideas are just straight up using Wild Hog or Hogwild.

-Ty Lee: I like the idea of her costume being very circus themed. Like, she looks like a trapeze artist. Lots of glitter and "look at me" kind of details on her costume. Tight, but with just enough loose flowing bits to look cool when it moves around. You could even keep the crown thing because my girl is a queen after all. I think we name her something like Sticky Sweet, Sweet Stinger, or Honey Stinger. Something that emphasizes the "looks like a cinnamon roll, could kill you" thing she has.

-Mai: Hear me out---rat instead of mouse. Mai is always down to pick a fight and is a lot meaner than your average mouse, and this way, her costume could have, like bandit/thug inspiration and she could just look so menacing. The only names that come to mind are Rat-Attack-Tat, which doesn't exactly roll of the tongue or Swarm, which brings more bug than rat.

Also. Eagle!Jet because Freedom Fighters and also Jet with guns sounds like a dangerous and amazing combination. That's it.

Anyway, I gotta go find everything on the Avatar!Ty Lee AU now because I didn't know you had that and HELL YEAH!

Oh! Okay so!

I love the Captain name for Sokka. Also I am double laughing at the Captain Boomerang reference because I have heard him called 'discount Sokka' once before. May have to hammer out the exact ladybug reference with it. A previous ask mentioned Harmonia and Harlequin.

Jaguar is perfect for Katara. I think I gotta go with Painted Jaguar because gotta love the reference.

Something viper themed is good, but I'm not sure exactly what. Vipertime makes me laugh but idk if it fits.

Seiryu is great actually.

Blind Tiger is also perfect lmao.

Okay so Azula! So like. Technically this is a no Bending au. Or else there'd be too much going on to have both atla's plots and the au's. So there's no reason to have a fire theme. BUT. I can't resist bringing back the wordplay that is Vulpyro.

rip Yue I got nothing either.

'looks like a cinnamon roll but will kill you' is the best description of Ty Lee. So yeah one of those Honey Stinger ones is great!

Rat time!! I like it. No idea on names.

Jet with the Eagle is a terrifying but perfect combination. Not sure what his plot will be in this au considering how different the plot is? Like obvs I want to parrallel ATLA's plots but I think a lot of him is hard to translate.

[atla-confessions]

I normally dislike a/b/o stuff (mostly because of how it’s usually an au for purely sexual reasons) but to be completely honest my brain has been stuck thinking about a/b/o in ATLA, to the point I’ve made around five plus google documents about it, three being unpublished and rushed fics plus two being rambles. My mind focuses on the weirdest of things. Anyways, since I can’t stop thinking about it, I just wanted to put it down here so that my mind hopefully starts being so focused on actual important things.

NGL, I’m an Omega Sokka and Alpha Katara truther. I just feel like it makes more sense to me than them both being Alphas or both being Omegas or whatever, ya know? I want to explain more but I, unfortunately, would make a fool of myself because it just shows goes to show much I’ve thought about this all if I already have an explanation prepared. But yeah, while I can handle the idea of an Alpha Sokka, whenever I think of him as an Omega my mind is quick to be all ‘Well, it makes sense, considering how he acts in canon, his choices, blah blah blah…’ same with Omega Katara v.s Alpha Katara.

Personally, I think that in ATLA, pups would present some time after they become 12 (can take weeks, months, maybe even a year or two), so for the entirety of ATLA Toph and Aang are unpresented. But in the comics and such, I’d say Aang would be a Beta and Toph either a Beta as well or an Alpha, but I lean more towards the idea of her being an Alpha.

I think Suki could be a Beta or Omega, but I usually see her as a Beta. She could possibly be an Alpha, and I wouldn’t mind hearing what people think she could be, but I mostly assume she isn’t an Alpha because I feel like it wouldn’t make exact sense. Her wariness of men and how she protects and supports girls so much makes me think if a/b/o were a thing, she’d also feel the need to protect Omegas/Betas from bad Alphas… and it would be a little strange to make her an Alpha if she was trying to protect her girls from them, wouldn’t it? I’m not sure. Either way, I think Sukka would still happen; Betas/Omegas can be with Omegas as well, not just Alphas.

I know that with most a/b/o ATLA fics people tend to make Zuko an Omega, but I seriously think he’d be an Alpha. It makes a lot more sense to me than him being an Omega does, but it’s hard to explain myself considering that this has been in my head for around a week or two now and this whole post is just a random thing I made. I’ll try my best though; I feel like he doesn’t embrace his Alpha tendencies much because of how Azula and Ozai (both Alphas) act and treat others, and he’s afraid of becoming like them. Before his redemption he was deadset on trying his best to be like them, but there was always an underlying disgust he felt at trying to fit into shoes that were a size too big for him. But he continued trying to be a manipulative Alpha anyways because he thought his feelings were cowardly and weak. Does that make sense? I want to explain more, I really do, but I already feel so awkward talking about this all. It feels like I’m nervously rambling to a judge who could throw rotten tomatoes at me at any moment and shout, ‘OFF WITH THEIR HEAD!’ for being dumb 🥲.

I’m not gonna give each of Ozai’s Angels a whole paragraph, nor the side characters, so I’ll just put what I think their second gender is here:

Jet, Azula, Ozai, Iroh, Hakoda: Alphas

Mai, Bato, Hama: Betas

Ty Lee, Yue, Kanna plus Kya, she’s important even if she’s passed long ago: Omegas

There’s probably more characters I missed but who cares! Sorry for the ramble and the scattered ideas, and if you guys don’t like a/b/o please don’t throw a tomato at my anonymous face. Still hurts, even if it’s not directly to me. I’ll maybe speak more about it if it interests others? Maybe? 😅 Like I have a whole document ready of stuff that isn’t even close to finished but that I’d still be willing to talk about!! But I don’t know, just like… if you care to know more… I DON’T KNOW!!! Ahhh! Don’t throw tomatoes and boo at me I’m a sensitive little dudeboygirlthing !!!!

X

[torahoes]

(IDOLiSH7) FIRE - ŹOOĻ [English Translation]

Link to my Twitter post with the color-coded lyrics

EDIT: The official lyrics are out so I've corrected and updated some parts of the lyrics and my translation accordingly. (01/02/24)

Lyrics:

Woah... woah...

Woah... woah...

ONE STEP 踏み込む一歩先

ONE STEP fumikomu ippo saki

ONE STEP, taking a step forward

足宛くほどに鈍く光った

Mogaku hodo ni nibuku hikatta

The more I struggled, the dimmer it glowed

TOO HOT 煮えたぎるような言葉 音に乗せて

TOO HOT nietagiru you na kotoba oto ni nosete

T0O HOT, words as if they’re boiling over, carried on by the sound

願いは SLEEPLESS 研ぎ澄ませたまま

Negai wa SLEEPLESS togisumaseta mama

My desire is SLEEPLESS, still sharp as ever

深く胸に突き刺す誓いは

Fukaku mune ni tsukisasu chikai wa

The vow piercing deep into my chest is,

FOR DREAM 誰のためじゃない

FOR DREAMS dare no tame janai

FOR DREAMS, not for anyone else

空に轟かす SHOUT OUT 激情

Sora ni todorokasu SHOUT OUT gekijou

It roars in the sky, SHOUT OUT your fury

淀む EYES が映し出す閃光へ

Yodomu EYES ga utsushi dasu senkou e

Towards the flash reflected in the faltering EYES

共に向かえば奮い立つ前哨戦

Tomo ni mukaeba furui tatsu zenshousen

If we face it together, it’s an exhilarating prelude

故に当然隙なんて無いぜ

Yue ni touzen suki nante nai ze

So, naturally, there are no openings

おざなりな言葉は必要無い

Ozanari na kotoba wa iranai

I don’t need any half-hearted words

I WANNA BREAK THE BARREN GAME

SOMEBODY ELSE のヤワな匙じゃ測れやしないスケール SCALE

SOMEBODY ELSE no yawa na saji ja hakare yashinai SCALE

SOMEBODY ELSE's feeble spoon can't measure the SCALE

答えは無くとも JUST KEEP TRYING

Kotae wa naku tomo JUST KEEP TRYING

Even if there's no answer, JUST KEEP TRYING

千切れた  (WAKE UP!)

Chigireta (WAKE UP!)

With a torn heart, (WAKE UP!)

心で叫べ (SHOUT OUT!)

Kokoro de sakebe (SHOUT OUT!)

Shout out loud (SHOUT OUT!)

溢れて抑えた感情さえ

Afurete osaeta kanjou sae

Even the overflowing emotions that were suppressed

全て混ぜ込んで

Subete maze konde

Mix them all together

撃ち抜こう (BREAK DOWN!)

Uchinukou (BREAK DOWN!)

Let's shoot through (BREAK DOWN!)

未完成の FUTURE (BRING OUT!)

Mikansei no FUTURE (BRING OUT!)

The incomplete FUTURE (BRING OUT!)

掴み取れ シケた心に

Tsukami tore shiketa kokoro ni

Seize it, and within that weary heart

この手で火を灯して

Kono te de hi wo tomoshite

Ignite the fire with these hands

Oi! Oi!

火を灯して

Hi wo tomoshite

Ignite the fire

Oi! Oi!

決して奪わせはしない PLACE

Kesshite ubawase wa shinai PLACE

I'll never let this PLACE be taken away

Oi! Oi!

Oi! Oi!

至って普通じゃないかもな

Itatte futsuu janai kamo na

It may not be completely normal,

綺麗事じゃ上手く笑えない

Kirei goto ja umaku waraenai

Empty words alone can't make me smile easily

そうさ 歪なピースが重なり合うだけ

Sou sa ibitsu na PIECE ga kasanari au dake

That's right, the warped PIECES just keep piling up

BY MYSELF きっと満たされるほどに

BY MYSELF kitto mita sareru hodo ni

BY MYSELF, surely, the more I feel satisfied,

やけに虚しくなっていくのは

Yake ni munashiku natte iku no wa

The reason I feel even emptier is

まだ進みたがってる

Mada susumita gatte iru

Because my heart that still wants to move forward

俺の心が乾いていくから

Ore no kokoro ga kawaite iku kara

Is gradually drying up

手に寄せるなら今すぐ CALLIN'

Te ni yoseru nara ima sugu CALLIN'

If you can get a hold of it, it's CALLIN' right now

24/7幅利かす裏通り

24/7 haba kikasu uradoori

24/7, dominating the backstreets

敵持てぬまま錆び付くな刀身

Teki motenu mama sabitsuku na toushin

Don't let the blade rust without facing any enemies

淀む EYES が映し出す閃光へ

Yodomu EYES ga utsushi dasu senkou e

Towards the flash reflected in the faltering EYES

共に向かえば奮い立つ前哨戦

Tomo ni mukaeba furui tatsu zenshousen

If we face it together, it’s an exhilarating prelude

故に当然譲る気は毛頭無え

Yue ni touzen yuzuru ki wa moutou nee

So, naturally, I have no intention of yielding in the slightest

縋るものなど何も無くても

Sugaru mono nado nani mo nakute mo

Even without anything to cling on to

誰にも (WAKE UP!)

Dare ni mo (WAKE UP!)

No matter who it is (WAKE UP!)

邪魔はさせないさ (SHOUT OUT!)

Jama wa sasenai sa (SHOUT OUT!)

I won’t let anyone interfere (SHOUT OUT!)

不確かな世界に呑まれたって

Futashika na sekai ni nomare tatte

Even if you’re swallowed by an uncertain world

現実を生き 抜くなら

Ima wo ikinuku nara

If you want to live in the reality

断ち切ろう (BREAK DOWN!)

Tachikirou (BREAK DOWN!)

Let's cut it off (BREAK DOWN!)

不透明な ANSWER (BRING OUT!)

Futoumei na ANSWER (BRING OUT!)

The unclear ANSWER (BRING OUT!)

捨て切れなかった想いが

Sutekire nakatta omoi ga

The feelings that couldn't be discarded

今熱を帯びてゆく

Ima netsu wo obite yuku

Are now heating up

Woah... woah...

揺れる光がまた

Yureru hikari ga mata

The swaying light brings back

あの日の景色を連れてくる

Ano hi no keshiki wo tsurete kuru

The scenery of that day once again

(重ねていく)

(Kasanate yuku)

(One after the other)

いつか いつの日にか

Itsuka itsu no hi ni ka

Dreaming of the day that I reach

届く日を夢見て

Todoku hi wo yume mite

At some point, someday

千切れた (WAKE UP!)

Chigireta (WAKE UP!)

With a torn heart, (WAKE UP!)

心で叫べ (SHOUT OUT!)

Kokoro de sakebe (SHOUT OUT!)

Shout out loud (SHOUT OUT!)

溢れて抑えた感情さえ

Afurete osaeta kanjou sae

Even the overflowing emotions that were suppressed

全て混ぜ込んで

Subete maze konde

Mix them all together

撃ち抜こう (BREAK DOWN!)

Uchinukou (BREAK DOWN!)

Let's shoot through (BREAK DOWN!)

未完成の FUTURE (BRING OUT!)

Mikansei no FUTURE (BRING OUT!)

The incomplete FUTURE (BRING OUT!)

掴み取れしけた心に

Tsukami tore shiketa kokoro ni

Seize it, and within that weary heart

この手で火を灯して

Kono te de hi wo tomoshite

Ignite the fire with these hands

Woah... woah...

傷だらけでも胸を焦がして

Kizu darake demo mune wo kogashite

No matter if it’s covered in scars, let your heart burn

Woah... woah...

[kawaiichibiart]

Random assortment of ATLA AU ideas I'm probably not gonna do anything with but needed to get out there:

AU where Zuko was never banished from the FN due to the people of the FN revolting when they found out. Word of the Agni Kai and the War Meeting had made it's way across the nation and the majority were in favor of Zuko. So much that they were planning a mutiny. Annoyed, but seeing a way out, Ozai orders a tower be made far away from Caldera. Once it's made, Zuko would live there. If they win the war, he'll forgive his son and welcome him back. The tower is built and Zuko is dumped in there. Only one way in and out and he can't open it. The other option is literally barred. Blah blah blah, we get into book 2, Suki has been caught by Azula. She's on her way to prison, not sure where she'll end up. And she's surprised when she's told she'll be keeping the prince company. Because, what prince? And she's put into Zuko's tower. In short, Zuki prison roommates AU but it's not in the Boiling Rock.

No one understands how it happened. Why it happened. They prayed to the moon. So, why did the sun respond and save their daughter? She prayed to the sun. She prayed and begged for him to answer. The one who answered her was the moon. Sun Spirit Yue and Moon Spirit Zuko AU. Bonus if both can bend the element of the spirit that blessed them (firebender Yue and waterbender Zuko).

Zuku joins the Gaang early and poses as Sokka's wife the entire time (fiancee if we go as early as book 1 and up until they get to Ba Sing Se in book 2. Zuko: I must find my darling husband!! I'm so worried about him... Katara: Seriously, what do you see in that guy? Zuko: He makes me laugh.)

The SWT has collapsed. Men have gone to war, and the remaining women, children and elders have split between finding sanctuary in either Kyoshi Island or the NWT OR living a new life at sea as pirates. Sokka becomes well known as a decent pirate. He won't raid someone just to raid them. They have to have something he wants. And right now, his attention was in the rather pretty boy (he assumed it was a boy anyways) onboard Zhao's ship. He'd usually go for maps and plans and even rations when he raided a ship, but this time he's thinking of getting a person. Huh, kidnapping...well there's a first for everything. (Basic summary, the SWT doesn't exist, Sokka is now a pirate, and yes so are Katara and Kanna. Their biggest enemy personally is Zhao, who's hunting down the Avatar (whom they're hiding in their ship). Sokka eventually notices Zuko, who was given to Zhao rather than banished. Blah blah blah, it's easy to tell Zuko hates Zhao, hopefully he won't mind a small kidnapping if it means getting off Zhao's ship (he does but honestly he'd rather be on Sokka's ship, it's a lot cleaner and the avatar seems nice, the bison is a bonus.))

Despite his attempts, Zuko is unable to join Team Avatar. Not able to turn to either side, he runs off and goes into hiding. While on the run, he reunites with Jin and they end up having a heart to heart. Things are confessed but in the end they get together and go on the run together. They open up a secret camp for people like them, on the run from the war. They heal the injured as best as they can and work together to make food that can last a few days. The first time things turn sour is when Jet enters the camp. He's hostile and picking fights until he's given the choice to cool his attitude or leave and hope someone else takes pity on him. Things settle down and he gets close with Jin and Zuko. More time passes by and they're eventually approached by Team Avatar, Aang and Toph both seem pleasantly surprised to see Zuko, but Sokka, Katara and Suki (whom the two water siblings freed from prison alongside their dad) weren't, Hakoda doesn't say anything. Like with Jet, they were given a choice, cool the attitude or leave.

Growing up, Azula always trailed after her mother and older brother. Despite being their father's favorite, Azula preferred their company. Call her overprotective, but like Uncle Iroh and their cousin Lu Ten have told her over and over, they were dragons. And dragons hoard and protect what's theirs. Ursa and Zuko are Azula's hoard, and she wouldn't let anyone hurt them. So, when Ursa disappears, when Zuko gets burned and banished, she decides enough is enough. The war against the other nations has ended, it was time for Civil War. And once she won, she'd bring her real family back. Ozai touched her hoard, it was about time he learned why you should never touch something belonging to a dragon.

Is this how adoption works now?? He just, finds kids lost at sea, abandoned in random places, having run away? Hakoda's not sure why it happened. It started when he found a young girl adrift on a small boat. Her white hair hidden with scarves and her hood. Yue, Princess of the NWT. Ranaway upon learning she was engaged to someone who wouldn't care for her or her people. Then came ex-Prince Zuko, who had been abandoned on an island they stopped to camp at. He'd been living there for about 3 years, maybe longer, he's unsure. But hey, what's another kid? He joins their crew... Fuck his earlier words, he doesn't need more kids. But Hakoda just sighs as a small girl (Toph) follows Zuko aboard. Seriously, is THIS how adoption works now? How's he gonna explain this to Sokka and Katara and his mother? They'll accept Yue no doubt, Toph might also be easy, but Zuko? Fuck, he needs a drink- BATO STOP LAUGHING!!

She didn't want it to end the way it did. She hated what had happened to him. What Ozai did to him while she was gone. What their mother did when she abandoned them. She remembered when Zuko was happy. When he'd smile at her and tell her he'd love her. She remembered the expectations put on him, the extra lessons and how little he was allowed to sleep. She was...jealous for so long. Both of their fire were unique, hers a brilliant blue and his a kaleidoscope of colors. It wasn't fair he was treated special... He wasn't treated special. And she was blind to that. She was blind and the truth was falling apart right in front of her. She hated this. She hated what this war had done to her family. What it did to her. What it did to Zuko. And she hated that she just stood there as her brother was carted off somewhere, ignoring his gaze as he was taken away. She hates everything... (sorta a roleswap between Azula and Zuko but not really?? Both are strong benders, Zuko just peaked later on but not too much later. As the oldest, a lot of pressure was placed on Zuko and thus Ozai's attention was on him as well. Azula, upset with this, did everything she could to upstage him. The two have a good relationship, but Ozai favoring Zuko didn't help and so Azula left to capture the Avatar, stating she wanted a challenge and to prove herself. She got a ship, and set sail with Iroh at her side. Azula eventually joins to Avatar's side and branded a traitor alongside her uncle. Zuko is tasked at bringing her home and despite how much he'd rather join her, Ozai's grip on him is too strong (not in the sense he's loyal to his father, but in the sense that he's too scared to leave). We eventually get to Agni Kai during Sozin's Comet and Azula comes out victorious, but it feels like an empty win because she knows Zuko had lost long ago. This was just the fight that broke him (also yes, Azula becomes the Firelord).

[ariihen]

some thoughts on netflix's adaptation of atla:

kiawentiio was done dirty cause she has so much of katara's bite and sass in her interviews

u can really tell the writing is the series' weakest point because the actors have what it takes to bring those characters to life but they'll only be able to do so much with the script and direction they're given

the wigs are SO ugly. yue had it the worst imo. she deserved better

suki was perfect

LET SOKKA WEAR DRAG U COWARDS

why the fuck are ppl just bending without bending forms and stances. why is aang able to fly without needing to lose his earthly tethers

why are they randomly cutting and pasting scenes in weird places

why is the swamp scene combined with the spirit world????? that was important in setting up toph's introduction????

the fact that the writers knew it made no sense for katara and sokka to end up in the spirit world with aang so even the characters said it and they just handwaved it bc plot lol

so much exposition. clearly the mark of a good story is when the character have to TELL u everything that's happening 🫠

the writers are such big kyoshi stans

like why is she taking other characters' roles

why is gran gran doing katara's intro

iroh and zuko are cute

zuko's choreo is so good

zhao is still a dumbass

his death is unsatisfying. what happened to getting fucked by the spirit world if u fuck with it. where's the ocean spirit dragging his ass to its demise. why is iroh providing his sentence

mai and ty lee are doing nothing but have terrible wigs and give exposition on ozai's motives that they somehow knoe about

aang: *gets told there's no easy way out in being the avatar*

also aang: *gets told everything he needs to know*

badgermoles are empaths now????

bumi they nerfed u

aang they nerfed u

gyatso u deserved a cooler fight to the death they really nerfed u

it's so fucking stupid that aang has to be in shrines to talk to his past lives

kinda cool they go into more detail of the past avatars' lives ig. even if only slightly

katara vs pakku was so lackluster

these bending fights are so lackluster unless ur zuko ig

no srsly how are some ppl just bending without forms. like sozin in episode 1 roasting that dude by just holding him

jun exists only to flirt w the dragon of the west and good on her, me too girl

what's the point of sokka getting suki's fan if he's not even gonna use it...

there's no stronger relationship than sokka x momo

oma and shu are gay i think. love that for them

why tf did aang spend this entire story not even trying to pick up another element. katara literally offers to learn with him a few times and he just didn't feel like it lol

OG azula was impressive and scary. netflix azula feels more like the eldest asian daughter trying rly hard to get her parents' approval. idk she's just alright

so much expositions

ok sure let's have time sensitive plot A not conclude in one episode, have it stretch to the next episode, and still only rush in concluding it at the very end in the backburner of plot B. let's just handwave the fact that those people definitely should've died in like the three days it takes them to resolve plot B

the cabbage merchant is cabbage merchanting

effects are good

[arabella-s-arts]

Watched the new atla show. And now I will share my thoughts because I need to put them somewhere.

I agree with people that it kind of fell flat. More like an impersonation than the actual show. Also, people are right, where is Katara's rage? I'm not going to dive into it, because people already have, but Katara is stubborn and righteous, so where'd they put those qualities?

I wish the show would stop telling us everything. Like, stop telling me that Ozai thought finding the Avatar would be impossible, and sent Zuko on this quest anyway. I know, it's obvious. I don't need to be told the subtext, that's why it's subtext. Subtality could do this show a world of good.

Zhao's death sucked. It was perfect how it was in the original, it showed Zuko's kindness, and Zhao's hubris being his downfall was perfect. Also, this isn't necessarily a complaint, just something I noticed, Zhao feels different in the show. A guy with similar aspirations and ideas, yes, but not the same guy we all hate.

The acting wasn't always the greatest, but I can't tell if it's actually the actor's fault or script (probably script).

I wish Sokka was involved in the Jet plotline, he played a big part in it originally, and it really showed his true character.

Why did Katara and Aang never get any actual training in Northern Water Tribe? That's what they were there to do. Somehow, magically Katara became a master waterbender, because she what? Believed in herself? That's not how learning a skill works. Imagine trying to learn the flute, you're confident, and you figured out on your own how to play a few notes. But you still need someone to teach you the rest of the notes, how to trill, how to read the sheet music, etc. You can't learn everything just from confidence.

The costumes bothered me so much. Sokka and Katara's coats looked so light weight, which is probably more comfortable for the actors, but those coats could not shield you from a light breeze, much less a frozen tundra. Also someone pointed out that their clothes don't actually look worn, and they're right.

What on earth was the scarf scene? Why was it there? What was the point? I am not a Zutara shipper (though I have no hate for the shippers, just dislike for the ship), and now online is just going to be posts about that.

Was Suki just not wearing her warrior make-up because she had to kiss Sokka? Either way, it's still upsetting. The one time she doesn't wear her warrior make-up (which is an honor to wear) is when she's finally in a real fight, and on the day Kyoshi shows up too. Also, no Sokka wearing warrior make-up? I get if they couldn't fit it in, but it's still a bit sad.

I don't understand them getting rid of the fact that Aang ran away, I think it really makes his character more complex as he struggles to take on the responsibilities of the Avatar.

They sorta switched Sokka and Katara's roles in the Omashu tunnels, which I don't get.

Having Zuko fight Ozai in the Agni Kai was a terrible idea.

I'm sorry to say this, because I don't like Zuko being in pain. But Zuko's scar is smaller and a lot more understated than in the animation. I don't know much about burnt tissue, or how it will scar, especially with their technology. But we rarely see heroes with facial scars beyond a line through the eye or something, I don't want it taken away. The scar doesn't even seem to reach his ear. And I'm sad about them confirming his sight was fine. Zuko with some hearing and vision loss is technically just a headcanon. But then why did Zuko only leave his unscarred side up when sleeping around people he didn't trust in the animated version?

I could tell that Aang was airbending during it, so it wasn't really flying. But it's a little too similar, especially considering how significant flying is in Korra.

The thing that bothered me the most was Yue's death. Why was it barely acknowledged?! Yue made a huge sacrifice, but instead we're making up a plotline that causes Aang to have the spotlight instead. And when Sokka was talking to Arnook about Yue, somehow the conversation became focused on Sokka, and his insecurity, instead of someone they both deeply miss (though Sokka and Yue's relationship development could've been better). Sokka is joking around again by the end of the episode, it feels like her death never happened! And why make her a fish! No offense to fishes, but it feels less impactful, and in the original, we could see how Yue was able to keep some of herself alive in the way she presents herself as a spirit, she doesn't do that here.

Some things I liked:

Zuko being upset about Aang stealing his journal.

Sokka and Suki had really good chemistry (though, the show doesn't really give us a reason why Suki likes him, she seems annoyed with him when they first meet).

The effects were good, and I liked a lot of the fight scenes.

Kyoshi.

Oma and Shu being lesbians.

That one lady hitting Zuko for trying to hurt Aang.

Suki being awkward and beating up the guy she likes.

I am impressed with how they were able to overlap some story lines. That must have been difficult to figure out.

The sets.

Azula.

[heavensenthearty]

“I. Love. Her!”

Rating: T Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender Relationships: Sokka/Suki Tags: POV Third Person, Post-War, Past Sokka/Yue (Avatar), Moon Spirit Yue (Avatar), POV Suki (Avatar), Established Sokka/Suki (Avatar), Suki-centric (Avatar), Suki Needs a Hug (Avatar), Good Friend Katara (Avatar), Sokka is a Good Significant Other (Avatar), Fluff and Angst, Grief/Mourning, Romantic Fluff, Romantic Angst, Romantic Gestures Summary: “Yue,” Sokka said, aloud. He lifted their joined hands. “This is my girlfriend, Suki. I know you are watching; I can feel it. That doesn’t sound like it will help my case now, but I do. I know you’ve been watching all along. I know you know I am in love with Suki. There is no one else I’d rather be with. I don’t have to choose between you two, because it is not fair to compare you, but Suki is everything I ever needed. It was thanks to her that I turned into the person you fell in love with. I love her and I love that I get to spend my life with her because she makes me better every day—every minute that I am with her. I. Love. Her. And if you were here, I know you would be happy for us.”

For @creativepromptfills. Prompt #1083.

Political meetings were boring at best and bothersome at worst. Suki thanked the Heavens that she only served as the Firelord’s bodyguard most of the time. Still, there were some others—like this one—when she performed as an emissary of Kyoshi Island; the situation with her island was complicated due to its history and location. It was a Water Tribe settlement that reached Earth Kingdom land, and they couldn’t be represented by other world leaders because, well, they were quite literally a no man’s land. They were in negotiations to make the island an independent state.

In her opinion, it was crazy that she didn’t learn her own island’s history until a few years ago.

Cutting the elders some slack, with the War going on, they had other things to worry about.

The ferry broke through the water until it honked, pulling her back from memory lane. They had arrived at the North Pole. She needed to appeal for the independence of Kyoshi Island in front of Chief Arnook.

(They had to appeal their independence in front of the Water Tribe Chiefs and in front of Earth King Kuei). (She wanted to believe she had the support of the last two, but she was cautious). (Yes, she was well-guarded when it came to work).

Putting on her coat, she stepped onto the deck. The North Pole was exactly as beautiful as Sokka had described. All the buildings made of ice looked like they were made of diamonds and the snow was so pristine white that it seemed like the town was glowing with a halo of its own.

“Suki!” Both Southern Siblings were waving at her from their own ship, with matching smiles. (Sometimes she found it creepy that they weren’t twins).  

She beamed and rushed off the ship to hug them both. The two of them were at a race over the snow where Suki was the finish line-slash-prize. One second, Katara took the lead, then it was Sokka. They switched a couple more times before Sokka reached Suki and hugged her tightly. (The power of love at its prime).

“Suki!” It felt like he was about to lift her if it wasn’t because his parka and her coat made it difficult to move.

Katara simply stood aside while their hug continued. Sokka seemed unwilling to let go, so his sister looked impatient.

“Sokka, it is impolite that I haven’t greeted Katara yet.”

“Five more minutes,” he grumbled into the curve of Suki’s neck, tickling her.

Katara gagged. “Spirits, you are in public!”

“Oh, you are still here?” Sokka asked, not without his usual sarcasm.

Katara started tickling him to make him let go of Suki.

“C’mon, Katara, I’m sure you can fit in here.”

She stretched an arm to open space, Katara scooted into the hug, and then everything was right in the world.

“Look at the three of you, together again.” That was Chief Hakoda’s voice.

He was walking over to them, not sprinting like his not-so-adult children; his smile and body language were affable. Suki never imagined somebody so laidback-looking could have such command.

When the Southern Siblings allowed her, she greeted the Chief while keeping a mild distance: “Hello, Chief Hakoda.”

She bowed. Part of her wanted to hug him, but she still felt too much of an outsider to the Southern Chieftain Family to do so.

“You know you don’t have to be so formal,” he replied.

Suki only chuckled.

Katara hooked her arm around hers like when they were younger. “Enjoying the North Pole so far, Suki?”

“Yeah, it’s very pretty.”

Her eyes gravitated towards Sokka, but he was looking into the horizon. He was staring at the city like it was someone he used to know. Of course, it was; Suki was well aware that he would never forget Princess Yue, and yet she couldn’t help a stab of pain. The little she knew about the late princess was that she had ascended as the Moon Spirit, and she was the reason Sokka had been so overprotective and hesitant when the two of them reunited.

Katara, ever the perceptive, squeezed her arm in a comforting gesture. Suki felt reassured, she never met someone as understanding as Katara.

“C’mon, guys, Chief Arnook must be waiting for us.”

“Sokka!” The Chief dropped all formalities and hugged the Water Tribe Warrior as soon as he caught sight of him.

Sokka returned the hug earnestly and with a nostalgic look in his eyes.

The scene was all the more astonishing since they were at the Ice Palace, in the throne room, but Suki seemed to be the only one curious about the exchange. Not even the guards escorting the Chief spared them a second glance.

Chief Arnook was another affable-looking man who looked just like he could have children around Sokka and Katara’s age, too. The light inside the room complimented the shade of blue in his eyes. The Palace itself was as regal as all the others Suki had seen but the fact that it was all made of ice accentuated its allure. In that sense, it was like nothing she had seen before. 

“It’s been so long, Chief Arnook,” Sokka said when they separated.

“It has.” The Chief was looking at him with a peculiar glint in his eyes.

Once again, Suki thought she understood the situation, and blamed herself for not anticipating her feelings.

Chief Arnook proceeded to hug Katara next, so at least the favoritism wasn’t limited to Sokka. He only showed a semblance of conventionalism with Chief Hakoda.

“It’s been so long since our last meeting, too, Chief Hakoda.” He bowed.

“Time flies by for us, Chiefs.”

They both laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world. Suki was sure she was watching Chief Arnook licking all the Southern Chieftain Family’s boots.

“By the way, Chief Arnook.” Sokka put an arm around her shoulders. “This is the Kyoshi Island emissary we were telling you about, Zhìhuì Suki.”

Only then did the Northern Chief notice there was someone else in the room with them. He tensed and turned in her direction, and she was just sure his expression hardened when he saw Sokka’s arm around her.

She knew Sokka had talked to him and he had already clarified their relationship, she hadn’t been shortsighted enough to not ensure a transparent, smooth meeting, but she didn’t anticipate the coldness in the Chief’s eyes as they measured her every inch like he was listing things to disapprove.

She was disrupting whatever dynamic he had with the Southerners until now.

Suki felt sympathetic and insulted. “Nice to meet you, Chief Arnook.”

She bowed respectfully but he only gave her a curt nod. “Shall we get to business then?” he asked.

Fine.

The meeting was different from many others, but only because it was so awkward! Granted to Chief Arnook, he remained professional throughout Suki’s exposition of the island’s case; it was the way he kept staring at her so intently that gave away his resentment. His blue eyes were just as cold as the ice that built the Palace.  

Despite the unwanted attention, Suki had never felt so overlooked. Most people feared and respected her position as the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors. Sure, some looked down on her, but they were pretentious, random politicians who didn’t affect her people. This time, the future of her island was at risk because of a personal matter that wasn’t even her fault to begin with!

Her fist clenched at the realization.

At last, Chief Arnook agreed to support Kyoshi Island’s independence—right after Hakoda vouched for her. Of course, Suki was merely a prod for more bootlicking.

“Well, that went well.” Sokka shook his legs after spending hours sitting.

“It went better than expected but it didn’t go ‘well’.” Suki took a glass of water.

They were left alone in the conference room. After the meeting, Katara and Chief Hakoda went to visit Master Pakku while Chief Arnook continued with his appointments of the day.

“What do you mean?”

“Chief Arnook doesn’t like me,” she muttered with the glass to her lips.

“What are you talking about? He invited us to dinner.”

“He invited you to dinner,” she insisted. “I knew it wasn’t a good idea that I came for this, but I didn’t want it to look like I was allowing my personal life to interfere with political stuff. Gods and Spirits, I’m such an idiot!”

“Hey, hey, calm down.” He took the water away from her and set it down before she could spill it.

He had to physically turn her around and hold her to his chest. “Listen, you did great today. You scored the support of two world leaders for your people. And you did it all on your own. Whatever is happening between… It is all in the past, it has nothing to do with this, and you didn’t let it get to you. You took care of everything like a pro.”

Suki returned the hug feeling warmth spreading inside her, from her chest to the rest of her body. She hadn’t noticed how in need of comfort she was. 

“You are right. You are right, sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for.”

They remained in each other’s arms for a long time, Sokka still acted unwilling to let go of her for the world, and Suki finally admitted she needed some comfort right now. It wasn’t like her to feel insecure about… It wasn’t like her to feel insecure, period.

She could never allow herself to feel insecure when so many people depended on her.

Thank goodness that nobody entered the conference room while they were in there. She’ll be damned if she let anyone other than Sokka see her crumbling down like that.  

By the time, her arms finally gave up a little, Sokka said: “C’mon, you’ll feel better after eating something.”

Well, the dinner was a whole new kind of awkward.

Chief Arnook only kept talking about the first time the Southern Siblings visited the Nort Pole, and how sorry he was that Yue and Sokka could never live their ‘epic love story’ to the fullest.

Katara and Hakoda just watched on. Suki barely touched the food since they sat down. (She may have felt better after eating something but she wouldn’t be eating from that table).

“I’m truly so sorry for contributing to your love’s doom, Sokka.” The Chief looked at the glass of wine he had been mixing for a few minutes. “I should have let Yue choose her partner. Let her live a happy life until her destiny came.”

“Thank you, Chief. But Yue was meant to be so much more than what any of us knew. And well, life has been kind to me, too.”

Sokka squeezed Suki’s hand. She appreciated it but still felt his wording was somewhat lacking. And from the looks of it, Chief Arnook wasn’t too pleased either. She sighed.

“I don’t doubt it,” the Chief said. “I am glad you got to meet my daughter, though. Your love was truly inspiring.”

Suki sighed again.

“Suki and Sokka’s love story is also inspiring, Chief Arnook,” Katara interrupted. It was the first time she spoke that night. “All of our mutual friends admire them.”

“You do?” Sokka asked.

His sister glared at him.

“I don’t doubt that either.” Chief Arnook took another gulp of wine. “Epic loves aren’t always meant to be admired. It takes a certain kind of bravery to love like—”  

Suki sprang to her feet and walked away.

“Suki, wait!”

Sokka took less than a second to call after her, but that only inspired her to walk faster. As background noise, she heard Chief Hakoda taking the wine away from Chief Arnook.

She exited the dining hall but it would be a few rows of stairs before she could get to her assigned bedroom. Great. Maybe she could sleep on the ferry that brought her there.

“Suki! Wait, please!” Sokka ran after her while she ran for the stairs.

“Leave me alone, Sokka,” she said, almost without inflection.

“Can we please talk? Please,” he pleaded, following her.

“Talk about what?” she replied while looking forward, jumping over the steps until she reached the second floor. Then she finally turned around to say it right in his face. “About your ‘epic love story’ with Princess Yue? I don’t want to hear about Yue! Listen, I know that you settled down for me as a second choice, and I—”

“What are you talking about?” he cut her off, which never happened before. He looked positively furious and horrified at the same time. “Settling down, what in the world? And ‘epic love story’, what even is that? This is not some predestined soulmate shit or fate or whatever. I love you all on my own. Because you're awesome and because I want to.”

“Well, couldn’t you say that to Chief Arnook down there?”

“Is that what you want? Because I will,” he said. “Heavens, I’ll tell Yue herself that I am in love with you.”

“What—”

He took her hand and dragged her to the nearest window, it had a perfect view of the full moon in the dark sky devoid of stars.

“Yue,” Sokka said, aloud. He lifted their joined hands. “This is my girlfriend, Suki. I know you are watching; I can feel it. That doesn’t sound like it will help my case now, but I do. I know you’ve been watching all along. I know you know I am in love with Suki. There is no one else I’d rather be with. I don’t have to choose between you two, because it is not fair to compare you, but Suki is literally everything I ever needed. It was thanks to her that I turned into the person you fell in love with. I love her and I love that I get to spend my life with her because she makes me better every day—every minute that I am with her. I. Love. Her. And if you were here, I know you would be happy for us.”

Suki stood there, watching and listening to him talk.

They heard an echoing giggle. When they looked down from the window to the shadowy snow, there was a girl standing under the moonlight.

She looked sixteen and she wasn’t wearing a parka or coat, her white dress revealed her shoulders and her long white hair flowed easily with the wind. She smiled.

Suki gasped, covering her mouth.

The girl waved her hand as a salute and disappeared when a cloud passed over the moon, blocking its light.

Suki looked at Sokka.

He shrugged. “Yeah, she does that sometimes.”

After the events of the night before, Suki was ready to sleep for days, but they still had to wait for the Earth King’s arrival.

“Warrior?”

She lifted her eyes from the scroll she was reading. (Passing by the Palace’s library to learn some more Water Tribe history sounded like a good idea to kill time).

Chief Arnook was the one calling her.

“Yes?”

“I…” the Chief hesitated. “I apologize for the behavior I displayed last night. I was too carried away by the informal setting and drank too much. I swear it isn’t a common habit of mine. And I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable during your stay in the North, especially not about your relationship with Sokka. I admit I haven’t coped with my daughter’s passing in the healthiest way. I do feel guilty I didn’t allow her to love freely, even when I anticipated what would happen. That was my mistake, and no one else has to carry its burden. For whatever it is worth, Sokka would do nothing but write praises for you during our correspondence.”

Suki giggled. “Thank you, Chief. Worry not, I completely understand.”

“And, please, don’t be mad at him for whatever I said last night. He already scolded me for it, and last night, in my drunken state, I had a dream of my daughter berating me for it, too.” He chuckled. “It must have been a sign.” Suki tried to cover her grin with the scroll. “Yeah, maybe.”

[witchering10123]

my "divorced" zukka au, slammed back into my memory by @transboyzuko latest addition (a true hero right there yall)

story idea is below the cut because whoo boy it became a lot longer than i thought it would

sozin's comet, sokka and toph are dangling off the ship, there's smoke and fire everywhere, it's getting hard to breathe, hard for sokka to see, and without his weapons, sokka is unable to see a way out

a figure of a guard appears through the smoke, and sokka jerks back and away from the man (in vain) but in doing so, jostles his leg. the pain and the shock combined, toph's hand slips out of sokka's grip and he watches helplessly as she falls

sokka makes to jump after her, but the guard grabs him before he can and yanks him back onto the safety of the wider platform. sokka tries to fight, but he's quickly subdued and he falls unconscious

(fear not, toph does live: she falls from sokka's grasp, but what sokka doesn't realise, due to the intensity of the smoke and fire, is that suki is right beneath them, and she catches toph. do not worry i am not killing toph, i am too scared to do that)

the airship pulls away from the battle, with the most senior commander taking over and urging a retreat to one of the southern fire nation islands, where he, and a number of powerful fire nation lords, hail from - that part of the fire nation does not recognise the authority of fire lord zuko, however it is unclear if they would recognise ozai, now that his bending is gone (and besides, quite a number weren't wholly impressed with him usurping iroh), so the war has become more of a civil war, with the separatists (they're not separatists but idk what else to call them) planning to take over the fire nation and then continue the war

the gaang are now faced with a fire nation civil war AND convincing the many ek provinces and water tribes to support zuko so that the 100 year war can truly end, however many ek ministers and some northern water tribe ambassadors believe this is a trick

during this time, sokka is a prisoner of the separatist group, and has resigned himself to this fate, believing toph to be dead and ngl perhaps suki as well, but he's definite that toph is dead and he's definite that his actions led to her death, so MAJOR survivor guilt

this is, of course, exacerbating his guilt about not protecting yue, his mum, katara (even though she's not dead he still doesn't know what happened to her)

so yeah, sokka's feeling very guilty and feels as if he deserves being imprisoned/tortured/etc, so he's not making any escape plans or anything, he's just done

BUT THEN

a new political prisoner is placed in the cell next to his: a young boy called hinata (imagine like 7 or 8) who the separatists are using to try and goad one of the fire nation nobles who is supporting zuko - he reminds sokka a bit of the boys back home in the swt that he cared for

sokka begins to feel very protective of this kid, especially when the guards come round to do their usual tormenting, or when they give out too small rations, or when hinata has a nightmare, and after a while he realises that he needs to get out, but not for himself, just for hinata

so they do, they escape (you'll notice how much thought i've put into this lmao) but they can't get back to hinata's family because it's all a massive war zone so sokka grabs the kid and they head for the ek, and not just the ek, like south east of ba sing se ek, near the eastern air temple ek, like as far from the fire nation as possible, sokka isn't letting anyone near hinata

yeah, he essentially becomes an older brother to hinata

now sokka has every intention of reuniting hinata with his family once the war is over but unfortunately they are very remote and so the village they are staying in doesn't exactly get the news asap. or like, at all

aang is visiting the eastern air temple a few months after that war has ended (i'm thinking at least a couple of years after aang defeated ozai but hey whatever floats your boat) and he stops by at a village to get supplies and lo and behold sokka and hinata are there

the reunion is very accidental, one of appa's buckles on his saddle snapped and aang landed near the village because he didn't want to continue his flight to the eastern air temple with a broken saddle and he needed supplies anyway, and so he enters the village, asks a nearby kid who looks strangely fire nation "hey, do you guys have a blacksmith" and hinata is like, "oh yeah, come with me" and he takes him to sokka

yes sokka would become a blacksmith fight me if you dare

(also i'm imagining that during sokka's time as a prisoner, he definitely lost his leg that got broken because like the separatists would have gone for the easiest route with sokka's broken leg and if it's broken too badly then why bother trying to heal it just go chop chop- so yeah, sokka makes himself a prosthetic and specialises in mobility aids, which are sorely needed in this area of the ek with the amount of refugees that fled to that province when they couldn't get access to ba sing se, but he does other engineering things as well and his ideas are, ngl, creating a bit of a hub near the eastern air temple, so slay for sokka)

regardless, aang and sokka reunion :)))

long chat about hinata having to return home, because like yes that was always the intention but aang reveals to sokka that hinata's family were killed when hinata escaped and the separatists had no more leverage over hinata's family (he doesn't reveal that to hinata for obvious reasons, he lets sokka do that) and hinata and sokka have become a little dependent on each other

it's not co-dependency per se, but like it was definitely going that way before they reached the village and their community helped them begin to heal from their trauma and stuff, but regardless they don't want to be separated, and so after much deliberation sokka and hinata decide that they want to stay where they are and if the gaang want to visit that is fine but if there's nothing tying them to the fire nation then why leave their new home

sokka's part of the decision is most definitely fueled by shame over losing toph and not being able to protect the people he loves, but aang doesn't realise that sokka doesn't know that toph is alive so aang doesn't mention anything, he just agrees to tell the gaang and family and all and leaves

aang returns not even three weeks later with katara zuko toph suki, a couple of hinata's uncles who want to at least see that hinata is alive, and a letter from hakoda and bato saying that they're aboard a ship sailing over

angsty reunion for sokka as he realises that toph is alive lemme assure you that was not on his reunion bingo card no siree

angsty reunion for suki and zuko with sokka because zuko and suki were very sure that sokka was dead and sokka was very sure that zuko and suki would hate him for getting toph killed

angsty water tribe fam reunion obvi with a heavy dosing of katara hakoda and bato assuring sokka that he did not fail

...so yeah it's angsty it's dramatic it's miscommunication it's long distance it's kind of technically not really divorced au but it's got a bit of flair and that's all that really matters

[burst-of-iridescent]

i think that deciding popularity via statistics in fandom specifically is kind of a moot point. i say this mainly because i feel like there's just no way to actually measure the popularity of something if you take into consideration the circles it's being shared in, the platform, and the people likely voting. for youtube, its going to majority be casual or older fans who tend to be more partial to kvtaang and on occasion zutara. on ao3, if you look right now, the most popular ships are zvkka and zutara, but I was talking to my friend who is quite active in the zvkka fandom, and she says a lot of these numbers are reoccurring authors + older fics. as for circles, if someone were to make say a kvtaang vs zutara poll, but shared it and only zutara shippers really saw it, the likelihood is that zutara would win, unless that poll left that circle. popularity in fandom doesn't really mean anything because its kind of hard to measure, and you shouldn't look at the popularity of something to justify your enjoyment of it. ive recently been reading some yue/suki which isn't popular by any means, but it's a very nice ship, and I still enjoy it

i agree with all of this. like you said, there’s neither a genuine metric of measurement nor does a ship need to be popular in order to “justify” shipping it lmao. so long as you’re having fun, who the fuck cares?

besides, popularity is nice and everything but it can also very easily be a flash in the pan. sure, a certain ship may have the most shippers, but do those numbers translate to genuine engagement with fandom, to fic and art and edits and creative involvement? will they stay the same five, ten, fifteen years from now?

because that’s what actually makes or breaks a fandom - not how many people it has, but their level of dedication & commitment when it comes to creating and maintaining a community for the thing they love. that’s what’s truly important.