“B-but! Azula isn’t shippable! She’s crazy and incapable of love!”

As if all the evidence in the show and comics wasn’t enough, here’s some storyboard panels Bryke showed at a con once.

Yes. That is Azula x Haru.

Source:

the comics have a lot of bad things but i think this is not one of them.

Thinking up fun AU's > Actually taking the time and using the effort to write them

About the last panels of Azula in the Spirit Temple, do you think Azula concluded that her former team abandoned her to focus on one of their own that was missing and that is why she decided to look for new followers? Do you also think the narrative is trying to force the readers with the idea that Azula will always be alone no matter how many followers she finds?

To me it felt like Azula's experience in the spirit temple made her think about how she treats people, and that it is indeed a flaw that she needs to work on, and that was why she decided to leave them alone in the end. Even though she never outright states this as being the reason as to why, that's just how I interpreted it. As far as the narrative goes, it's hard to say. The writers have always been wishy washy when it comes to how her character in particular has been handled in the comics, so who knows.

Serious question: Why is it that so many people assume that Azula must give up her ambition in order to heal or evolve?

Why is Azula's ambition deemed a corrupting influence while male characters are allowed to have big dreams and go after them?

Me: Azula kinda got screwed over. Here's why

Randos like clockwork: she needed to be restrained, though, she was a danger to herself and others. I know asylums have a bad wrap, but they couldn't let her walk around. She had to go down. She did bad things and couldn't be trusted. There was no other obvious option. Zuko also had it bad too, and that's why it's all reasonable in the end

Oh my god. It's like not even a conversation with these people. They just want you to agree she was "crazy" and needed to go down, lmao

Okay. Gotta know.

I think what makes me even sadder about Kataras live action portrayal is how I've yet to see many people talk about what is actually my issue with it. Like a LOT of people have said something is wrong and off, but it boils down most often with wanting her to be more angry. And that isn't inaccurate. She SHOULD have more of that rage. That IS a part they also completely erase.

But as far as anyone concerned any feminine side of Katara- that mothery, nurturing side she canonically DID have in the orignal- I've yet to see anyone really touch on how that is the core of the issue. The rage went just as quickly as that nurturing side when they decided Katara needed to be more warrior...and less of anything else. And that is putting it generously. Mind you, I have not looked for a whole mountain of opinions and maybe I am missing something. But it feels like everyone would be completely happy with this Katara if she was just more angry.

And as someone who ALWAYS has related to Katara far more for her nurturing and loving side, that really is a bummer. If we want to talk about representation, if we want to talk about making woman and girls see themselves in the characters they were watching, like it or not that facet of Katara did that for a lot of young girls and woman. At least, she did for me which is why Kataras characterization in the live action does sting so much for me personally.

And let me be clear again: This is not to say I'm saying that everyone is wrong about this and I'm right. It is 100% fact Katara loses out on so much not being as angry as she should be, and they messed up with not exploring that. I'm just pointing out it goes deeper for me. If you think I am wrong that's fine. Just getting these thoughts out.

Okay. With that off my chest and a rewatch under my belt I do promise to get on talking about the positives of the live action now XD.

you know what would really defeat ozai? both of the kids he abused having redemption arcs and finding a better path to walk than the one he tried to break them to

An extreamly good point.

i think it would have made all the difference in the world if azula had known that her mother would have murdered azulon for her, too. she must have figured out that her mom did it to save zuko, and something must have niggled at the back of her mind that it would have been different for her.

"my own mother thought i was a monster." and you dont fight to save monsters

With a bit of rewatching done I think I mostly got my thoughts together about Karara. Here it is: I love this Katara. She may not be the og Karara but this version of her is great. In fact, she got some of my favorite scenes! That, however, doesn't mean it doesn't kinda set up some not so great things for the female cast in general.

I'll just say this.

I hope somehow they intoduce a female character who DOES have that motherly/nutureing side to them if they get the greenlight for the last two seasons. And I hope they get focus. How or where that could happen I don't have the faintest of cluse but. I know while I do love this version of Katara, it leaves the cast lacking in representing woman. At least in my personal opinion.

Okay, on the complaint about Azula not being composed and in control of herself enough...

Yes it IS a change to have her be a little bit unstable this early. Even more so with the change they've made to Ozai's interactions with Azula and Zuko.

Yes it is ALSO more true to real life.

No it does not make her less scary or skilled. No it does not make her arc less enjoyable in my opinion.

Okay, I said my peace and can admit I actually throughly enjoy the potrayals of ALL of the fire nation royal family. It feels just like the OG story but more layers and detailed, and I LOVE that. Being a Azula fan, I do love they are bringing this very notable sympathic side forward in the time line. I've said it a hundred times: Azula is the product of the same home Zuko is, even if the abuse took different forms. Ignoreing that is ignoreing canon fact. I appresiate them not holding that back till the last season like the orignal.

Yes there is some, weirdness going on with motivations. Mostly, with Ozai playing these games more directly with Zuko and Azula it changes their motivations. Ozai complimenting Zuko is WEIRD but. I think what that needs more of is cleaning up and clarifying narratively...which could be something easily handled in a second season where Azula is more involved anyways.

Me standing with the zutara shippers even though I don’t care for it cause I’m a Azulaang shipper so it works in my hand

Is it just me or are Azula and Katara's arcs kinda switched? What, with Katara having natural talent in natla as opposed to the practice and determination she had in animated series to become a master and Azula struggling with perfection and growing into a prodigy instead of being born one and eventually proving to 'the man' she has what it takes?

Got through the live action FINALLY.

General opinion: LOVED it. Not flawless by any means, but they are not anything that takes away from enjoying a LOT. They managed to tell the story while also genuinely making it their own. Really had fun watching, and am crossing my fingers they get a crack at the rest of the series!

I will be making MANY post on this but here are a bullet pointed list of some of the highlights.

Azula being shown to be a product of Ozai and his abuse is a breath of fresh air. Like we see how their father effects both of them. And while that DOES change some things and does seem messy in areas (a post about that will come eventually) It is so good to see Azula fleshed out like this early. The arc of her learning fire is SO good. I was waiting and waiting for it and freaked out when she was like 'no' and lightning bent right in his face.

The Gaangs bond is there and so awesome. I got major warm fuzzy feelings any time they are close and interact and just genuinely are a family. I loved that, the chemistry is SO good.

Iroh and Zukos bond had me nearly crying as well. That loveing family they've created between them just jumps off screen and every moment they were on screen I was loving it. In a similar vein, Zukos crew being the group of soilders he saved knocked me back a bit in the best way, as did just the general closeness between all Zukos crew.

The removal of the comet as a deadline is...interesting but knowing that the cast is young and will grow, it makes sense. Fair choice.

ATLA Netflix

Team Azula Sneak Peek