#I do think sokkas a mess right now
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Hi pook 😢 ( sorry if u don’t like the nickname) but I’ve been reading your series and I am reading Into the Fire (chapter 8) and I’m just wondering why you made Sokka give in so easily when people tell him to control himself that’s not Zuko. Because I would imagine that he would be more stubborn and more focused on what he wants instead of being caring. Even though he’s a caring and kind person I feel like being in prison would make him more selfish and less understanding of other people if than makes sense 😭
Like it just aggravates me when I see Katara try to idk really baby him and control him a bit (not mentally) it just kind of annoys me. Because even though Sokka loves his Sister I feel like he shouldn’t listen to her for real.
But that’s just me because that’s my opinion coming from someone behind has anger issues/ gets angry easily 🤷♀️
I love love love this series btw!!!!
I added your other ask too so I could respond to both! Hiiii hellooooo I don’t mind nicknames it’s actually nice because then I can keep anons apart haha
as for your comment about sokka I gotta say you’re probably the first person to tell me sokka isn’t angry enough haha. Which is fine because everyone’s allowed to have their own opinions, but my thoughts on LIAB angry sokka is his intelligence is often battling his emotions. I think sokka is smart enough to know he isn’t supposed to be lashing out at people the way he is or clinging to Zuko so tightly to where they both can’t breathe.
i also think he is desperate to be back to his “old self” without actually wanting to be his old self. I do think he is fighting his path to healing every step of the way but even with all the time spent in prison he is still SOKKA. He cares for people he loves his family and he knows from watching his parents growing up what a healthy relationship looks like - his codependency to zuko is probably not it. I doubt it will change much, but when people tell him ‘you need to chill’ Sokka is very much like I FUCKING KNOW BUT I HAVE NO CHILL!!! NONE! ZERO CHILL.
but I can’t imagine sokka wanting to hurt anyone who doesn’t deserve it. Or fighting his friends and family to isolate himself anymore than he already is. I have learned that writing a more emotionally triggering fic does stir up emotions in people and causes them to project onto the characters a bit which is fine but everyone processing trauma differently. & sokka is doing it his own way just like zuko is.
Also…. This is a fanfic and I don’t know if people wanna read sokka being a raging asshole for 50k… so some of the realism in healing gets lost to word count because unfortunately I can’t spend years and 1000k helping these boys overcome their trauma so some of it has to be rushed a little for word count / plot purposes haha.
Liiiiiiisten here pooki-anon you come yell at me anytime about liab I’ll be right here to soak up every word! Thanks for the ask I’m glad you’re enjoying the series!!
#I have tried to take my time with the healing arc#Because we spent SO MUCH TIME dismantling the boys#I wanted to give them the change to be somewhat put back together to where they can at least function#I do agree with you anon!#Sokka could be 10000x angrier he could close up and say fuck off to everyone but it’s just another hurdle to climb over#His anger has been a reoccurring theme because I do write liab sokka angry#He has a right to be angry too!!#But I don’t know if people wanna sit and read sokka going in circles with his anger anymore than he already has#I love love love a good healing arc and I’m trying to take my time with the boys but….#*word count and plot point and me eventually wanting to work on a project that isn’t LIAB haha*#I do think sokkas a mess right now#But damn it I want him and zuko to snuggle and him and Katara to laugh and his dad and him to pal around and toph and Aang to give him shit#And momo to pull his ears and appa lick him and idk all the fun sokka stuff we miss#I can’t do that if sokka won’t be open to healing and being less angry#Which is why I’m allowing him to progress haha#Ugh now we gotta work on zuko!! ->#Zuko: “why I’m fine??”#Boy is NOT FINE but he is damn good at acting fine haha#Thanks for the ask anon#Ill#give you the tag#Pookianon#Liab#ITF#ask
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So here’s the thing, everyone in the Gaang assumed that Azula was the older sibling.
…
And they love her eyeliner.
— — — Sokka
Sokka: WAIT WHAT
Azula: Ugh, why are you yelling at me?
Sokka: YOU ARE THE YOUNG SIBLING
Azula: Yes? Why you ask?
Zuko: He was complaining about Katara. And then he said “Ugh but you wouldn’t get it cause Azula is the oldest”.
Azula: And you get it?
Zuko: Not really.
Sokka: IT’S IMPOSSIBLE.
Azula: It’s cause I’m better at everything.
Zuko: It’s the makeup and how insufferable you are.
Sokka: IT’S EVERYTHING.
Sokka: How she looks, talks, thinks…you have to be messing with me.
Azula: I honestly don’t know if I should feel flattered or insulted.
Zuko: She’s the same age as Katara.
Sokka: NO WAY.
— — — Aang
Aang: So tell me how was Zuko when he was a baby? I’m curious.
Azula: I don’t now. I’m guess he cried a lot.
Aang: Oh you don’t remember?
Azula: I wasn’t alive avatar.
Aang: Hold on, are you the younger sibling?
Azula: I am.
Aang: But you look older, and know more about history and stuff. Plus all of that trauma and emoti-
Azula, slightly annoyed: Yes Aang I get it.
Aang: It doesn’t make sense.
Azula: It’s simple: makeup and discipline.
Aang:
Azula: What?
Aang: I have some meetings this week could you help me to look older so they will pay me more attention?
Azula:
Aang: Please. For the sake of the world?
Azula: Sure I’ll show you.
— — — Toph
Toph, seeing how Katara and Sokka are arguing: Men sometimes I’m glad I’m an only child.
Azula: I almost was once. Zuko wasn’t happy about it.
Azula: But I must say, having an older brother who looks after you feels nice. But if you tell anyone I said this I’ll commit arson.
Toph: WHAT?!
Azula: I mean Zuzu and I fought a lot.
Toph: Not that. No way he’s the big bro.
Azula:
Azula: I’m actually curious about why you didn’t know it cause it’s impossible that it could be for the makeup.
Toph: You were a fucking pro master firebender back then and Zuko wasn’t.
Azula: Did you know that my flames are blue?
Toph: No way. Why nobody tells me this things. Anything else cool?
Azula: I can make lighting balls in both of my hands and I can make a perfect eyeliner in 30 seconds.
Toph: Can you do it now?
Azula: Which one?
Toph: Both but bring someone else cause when I ask if it looks good on me I need to know the truth and I still can’t fucking tell if you’re lying or not.
Azula: Makes sense. Although I would never lie to you about that.
— — — Suki
Suki: I need you to teach them firebender’s forms even though they’re non-benders.
Azula: Easy. I used to do it with Ty lee.
Suki: But you have to treat them as your younger sisters. Like how you would treat Zuko if you like him.
Azula: What?
Suki: Kindness?
Azula: No. Do you think I am the older sibling?
Suki: You aren’t?
Azula: No.
Suki: Wait what?!
Azula: I’m the same age as Ty lee. I went to the royal fire academy with her.
Suki: Whao.
Suki: You did and plan all of that shit when you were 14?!
Azula: I don’t know what that tone means.
Suki: Did you have that huge breakdown at 14?
Azula: Now you are simply being rude.
Suki: I don’t believe you. TY LEE COME HERE.
Ty lee: What’s sup?
Suki: Is she the same age as you?
Ty lee, raising an eyebrow: Yes?
Ty lee, realizing: Oh you didn’t know she’s younger than Zuko. It’s the makeup ‘Zula. You look beautiful, but it makes you look older.
Suki: It can’t be.
Azula: Can’t you stop being rude? I look great.
Suki: Not that, asshole. You being younger than Zuko. It doesn’t makes sense…
Azula:
Suki:
Ty lee:
Suki:
Ty lee: I think you broke her? What were you doing before?
Azula: She was explaining to me who I was supposed to teach and how I have to treat them.
Suki: But how she fights…
Ty lee: Oh right, c’mon they’re waiting. They actually pretty nice. You have to be patient ‘Zula.
Azula: Ugh.
Suki: And she played with us…
Ty lee puppy eye’s version: For me please?
Azula: I hate you.
Suki: She conquered Ba Sing Se…
Ty lee: No you don’t. *kiss Azula’s cheek* Hurry up. Bye Suki!
Suki: She killed the avatar…
Suki: AND SHE WAS 14.
Azula, being dragged by Ty lee: Ty, I think you are right. I broke your boss.
Ty lee: I hope that means a vacation for at least a week.
— — — Katara
Katara: You are my age?!
Azula: Hello Azula. How are you Azula? You look great Azula.
Azula: That’s how you have to start a conversation. But yes I am. Why?
Katara: Everything we did.. We were the same age all the time?
Azula: That’s how time works.
Katara: I THOUGHT I WAS BEATING SOMEONE AT LEAST AS OLD AS MY BROTHER
Azula: Why are you yelling at me? Is it a family thing?
Katara: I thought I was so ahead of my age…
Azula: You are a master waterbender without almost any professional help, you heal people with your bending and help to end a 100 year war. Plus you defeated me once. What the fuck are you talking about?
Katara, blushing: Oh, that…that was actually so nice, thanks. I- I appreciate it.
Azula: Your welcome. Now if you excuse me I have things to do.
Katara: Wait.
Azula: What now?
Katara: Can you…?
Azula: I can do a lot of things.
Katara: Well your eyeliner…can you…?
Azula: *sighs* You’re the third person to ask. So I guess it’s your turn.
— — — Zuko
Azula: If someone else imply I’m the oldest sibling you will have to bring back the straightjacket.
Zuko: In my defense they didn’t ask they just assumed.
Azula: You know how many eyeliners I had to do today besides mine? Three. THREE.
Zuko: I think Sokka was going to ask you too, he was looking for you…
Azula: For Agni’s sake.
Azula: At least I hope you don’t want me to teach you too.
Zuko: Mai taught me a long time ago.
Azula: Thank Agni.
Zuko: But I must say I don’t get them. You clearly are my little sister.
Azula: Because I’m a much better version of you?
Zuko: No.
Zuko: Because you are a lot more insufferable and insane than I am.
Azula: If you don’t start running now I’m going to celebrate becoming an only child. Again.
Zuko: Sure buddy.
Azula: One, two-
Zuko: LALA DON’T YOU DARE. STOP THE SPARKING.
— — — Mai & Ty lee
Azula: FIVE five people’s makeup. And I don’t even like them.
Ty lee: Wait five? Suki too?
Azula: I’m counting mine. Adds more drama.
Mai: Such a drama queen.
Azula: But anyway I don’t deserve this.
Mai, raising an eyebrow: You sure?
Ty lee: Look at it as your little price to pay in your healing path. Plus every time you do an eyeliner your aura gets a little bit pinkier. So stop complaining.
Mai: Although I don’t see the big problem with the fact everyone thinks you’re older than Zuko.
Ty lee: True, why is bothering you so much?
Azula: I refuse to think Zuzu ages better than me.
Mai:
Ty lee:
Azula: Whatever. By the way I’m impressed with the little avatar’s fangirls. You were right Ty.
Ty lee: Of course. When am I not?
Mai: When you started to date her.
Azula, starting to sparkle:
Ty lee: And here we go again.
#atla#avatar the last airbender#aang#sokka#suki#azula#mai#ty lee#tyzula#azutara#katara#toph#zuko#fire siblings#azula’s eyeliner
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The Painted Lady
Air Bison, Sea Bison, and now Sludge Bison.
I have no idea how Aang is swimming through a solid. Must be an Avatar thing.
I bet there would be time for more potty breaks if Sokka hadn't spent 100+ hours of their time drawing up the schedule. A very Sokka thing to do though.
Because hills often have horns. Great disguise.
You can't tell me that a factory that close to their town wouldn't also become the town's primary employer.
That is a lot of town.
I sense a return of preachy Katara. This episode is going to suck.
I'm with Sokka on this one. Buy fish, move on, defeat Firelord, return to help with environmental remediation if time permits.
I like Doc. And Shu. Nice people.
Writers: if you have to make one of your characters an entirely different person to set up the episode's lesson of the week, maybe the lesson doesn't fit your chosen characters. This is the Warriors of Kyoshi all over again. Funny how that's happened to Sokka twice.
We are all Sokka.
And where exactly did this mysterious painted lady get the food to deliver to the village, if the reason the Gaang stopped in the village in the first place was because they needed food?
Let the record show: I lost the last of my patience with this episode 8 minutes and 9 seconds in.
Waterbending healing has never thrown off that much light before. Even the spirit oasis water wasn't that bright.
Also where is the water she's healing with? Usually she has a big bubble of it.
Impersonating a religious figure. That won't end badly.
"Well I hope she returns every night otherwise this place would go right back to the way it was." YES!!!!!! THAT'S THE POINT!!!!!
What was Katara's plan? Forget about the eclipse, forget about fighting the Fire Lord, we're going to stay here for the rest of our lives so that the painted lady can put in a nightly appearance. THIS IS WHY SOKKA DOES THE PLANNING.
Spirit magic is more doing the worm than doing the wave. Good to know.
Bold of a kids' show to advocate for ecoterrorism.
Aang's like "Hey spirit lady! Here's my resume! Here's my connections on LinkedIn!" Why did Katara think that faking being a spirit within two feet of the bridge to the spirit world would be consequence free? Actually that presupposes that Katara thought. Which she didn't. Sokka does her thinking.
"I don't get to meet many spirits. But the ones I do meet, not very attractive." I am OFFENDED on Yue's behalf. And Sokka's. I guess Aang doesn't like Water Tribe girls after all.
"I guess I just became her." No. That's an excuse and a deflection. I don't want to hear it.
What was I saying about Aang and Katara enabling each others' bad tendencies?
Sokka is horribly out of character this episode, but Aang is as well. In what universe would Aang be so unbothered by Appa being sick, and then so unbothered by the reveal that Katara had been faking Appa being sick? Like, this is Appa. He nearly skinned a bunch of sandbenders over the guy. And he finds out Katara's been messing with him and calls her 'great' and 'a secret hero.'
So this factory, despite being operational 24/7, has no night staff, not even a night guard? Because if it does (which it absolutely does - automation is a problem for factories in our world, not the ATLA one), Katara and Aang just killed A LOT of people.
And so she follows up one short term solution with another short term solution, which causes a third problem she will no doubt solve with a short term solution. You think there won't be reprisals for the only obvious suspects to this industrial sabotage? You think they won't rebuild the factory?
Sokka was kidding when he said that the Spirit Lady had better blow up the factory, but not in the way Katara thought he was kidding. Katara thought he wasn't being serious. But Sokka was serious, in that blowing up the factory is as short term a solution as appearing every night. He thought the joke - exchanging one bad solution for another - was obvious.
Somebody's enjoying himself a little too much.
Unfortunately, serving as Exhibit A is the most Toph has had to do all episode.
It is cathartic to see someone finally call Katara on her nonsense. But I'll bet everything I own that the narrative is going to side with her anyway.
Welp. I won that bet.
"You need me." Correct! Katara unsupervised needs bailing out after five minutes.
"And I will never turn my back on you." A much more realistic goal than never turning your back on anyone who needs you, and also Sokka summarised in one sentence. Impressive for an episode where they had to Flanderise him beyond recognition to make Katara somehow the good guy.
Oh for fuck's sake. It's not about having a heart. This late in the game it's pure damage control.
So that's where the Painted Lady's food came from. I guess Fire Nation factories count as pirates?
I like the jetskis. The seem far more stable than actual jetskis.
It never occurred to Katara to obscure the evidence even a little bit? At least rub some dirt on the emblem. Look at me assuming Katara has thoughts.
Actual reprisals for once. About time.
This kid is annoying.
Toph gets to be a haunted house sound effects machine.
That's awfully waterbendery for a Fire Nation spirit.
I don't buy for a minute that anyone would be able to stay perfectly upright and balanced after an air blast from below without extensive trampoline training.
This won't work. His superiors, or the next shift change, or the first recruit wanting to climb the ranks quickly, will rise to the challenge presented here by the "painted lady." And as soon as one FN attack goes unchallenged by the "painted lady," the village is toast. I give them a week, tops.
Kudos to some clever in-universe bending special effects. Doesn't save the episode though.
Katara's preachy speech here makes absolutely no sense in light of the rest of the episode. Scolding them for not saving themselves, when waiting around for someone to save them appears to have worked perfectly? And having little miss I-must-save-the-whole-world-on-a-weekly-basis-otherwise-my-sense-of-self-implodes deliver that scold?
Who are these people wearing the Gaang's skin?
Yeah, nothing screams undercover in enemy territory like an entire village knowing that you're a waterbender. Good thing the only competent tracker in the Fire Nation is Zuko, otherwise these kids will absolutely be dead long before the eclipse.
Hi Bushi! You're about the only part of this episode that doesn't drive me nuts!
At least the animators had fun with this one.
Is this guy mopping the river?
Exactly how many days did they take out of Sokka's schedule to restore the ecosystem? I don't care how overlevelled these kids are at bending, you cannot mechanically separate an entire river's worth of dirt from water in an afternoon.
Well that's just he piss icing on the shit cake, isn't it? It wasn't enough for Sokka to lose all reason and come around to Katara's very flawed way of thinking, it wasn't enough for Aang to call her a hero, it wasn't enough to have a village worshipping at her feet, Katara needs affirmations of how right and special and correct and perfect and morally justified she is from the spirit world itself. This is Mary Sue stuff.
Final Thoughts
This is the first time an episode of Avatar has felt like a waste of my time.
It's also the first time I've felt like an episode has gone out of its way to insult the audience.
Katara talking about how she knows what she's doing is wrong is worth absolutely nothing when a) she goes right back to doing it; and b) literally every other part of this episode trips over itself to assure Katara that she's in the right.
Katara is downright punchable this episode. Sokka is Flanderised; Toph is non-existent; Aang is just there; poor Appa is an unwitting accessory to crime; and Momo has as much impact as a housefly.
So the execs forgot about the existence of The Spirit World Part One and demanded a save the environment special episode. The writers responded by forgetting that they'd already established that Katara was ride or die for literally anyone with a pulse in Imprisoned, and gave us this to remind us of that fact. They also forgot that they'd already established that Katara has no moral code whatsoever the minute her personal interest is involved in The Waterbending Scroll, so they decided to recycle the "narrative sides with Katara endangering them all over Sokka being reasonable" plot from that episode and hope we wouldn't notice. We did.
At least with Imprisoned, Katara kind of sort of caused the problem that she fixed. She was super tangentially involved in that kid's arrest. Here, she causes problems by trying to fix problems that she didn't really have any business getting involved in.
The more of this I watched, the more I wanted someone to slap Katara. What I wouldn't give for an episode where she is wrong (has happened a lot) and the episode doesn't pretend otherwise (has never happened). For god's sake, LET HER BE WRONG AND FEEL IT. How else is she going to progress past being self-righteously fourteen? Why is she being so consistently insulated from consequences? Aang chooses power over family at the end of season two and gets actually murdered for it. Katara steals, lies, skirts dangerously close to being a false prophet and does a nifty little ecoterrorism (with Aang's help), and she gets villagers being a bit shouty before big brother comes in and fixes it. Then she gets divine sanction for her actions so even the shouty bit is negated.
There's an interesting contrast in Katara's "I will never turn my back on people who need me" and Sokka's "I will never turn my back on you." It shows which of the two doesn't have their head in the clouds, and has actually formulated realistic expectations of how much a single person can do. It also speaks to the fundamental difference in how they operate. Katara acts; Sokka mitigates. Sokka does Katara's thinking for her; Katara outsources her thinking and then gets pissed when rational thoughts don't conform to her emotions' view of the world.
Why haven't the villagers moved away? If the water was poisoning them this much, why are they still here? Was the early 2000s too early to have a theme of climate refugees? Or the pollution equivalent? That would have been more interesting than this.
I hated this. Why isn't this the episode that gets hated on like the Great Divide? Its sins are nothing compared to this.
Doc, Shu, and Bushi were the only good thing in this episode, but they weren't enough to make this one remotely rewatchable.
One out of Three so far on season three episode quality. No other season has had this bad a ratio this early. This does not bode well for the rest of this season.
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ok hello i have found that i have no choice but to introduce you to my "divorced zukka but slightly to the left" headcanon for a modern au. basically, a pre-transitioned zuko and sokka have a one night stand at the end of their senior year of high school, and never speak again. roughly six years later, sokka is starting his job at an elementary school (not a classroom teacher, like technology or something) and meets izumi, who is so sweet and cute and i swear thats the face katara makes when she's annoyed, and one day happens to see her dad pick up and huh he looks and AWFUL lot like that person i went to high school with and OH GOD some quick math brings an idea to mind.
So sokka attempts to confront zuko who is very much NOPE DO NOT TALK TO ME, but finally breaks down after a series of shenanigans that def do not involve mild stalking. but only to admit that yes, izumi is sokka's biological daughter, and would like to leave their interactions at that, except sokka has NO interest in SIMPLY leaving it at that because!!! he has a kid!!! that he knew nothing about!!! for six years!!!
zuko very much would like to continue living his life without sokka bc being a single young parent is hard enough but he has a good routine and good relationship with his daughter and he doesnt need this, this, SPERM DONOR to just come in here and mess everything up! the guy hasnt been there the last six years, there is absolutely no reason for his to get involved now!! BUT sokka absolutely would have been there if zuko had only TOLD HIM, but how was ZUKO supposed to know that, and did zuko really think so little of him?? except it was a one night stand and zuko didnt even realize he was a boy until right after and he originally wasnt even planning to keep izumi, and HOW could he have just given up their CHILD without ever even telling sokka about her and given him a CHANCE to take her, and WE WERE JUST KIDS AND HE WAS SCARED-
its complicated. and involves a lot of trying not to shout around izumi, who is just over the moon that her dad and her favorite teacher know each other outside of school. and there's a lot of heartache over sokka having to come to terms with the fact that yeah, hes not izumis parent, and there's only so much he can do without stepping on zuko's toes, and he only wants what is best for izumi, and zuko seeing that maybe sokka really does want to be all in for izumi even if zuko thinks sokka really doesnt fully understand what that means, and would it be such a bad thing? not that either of them are going to admit this to the other.
so it starts with small things, like sokka being allowed to pay child support (which hes been begging to do since day one), and maybe it turns out that zukos new coworker is sokkas friend and they end up at the same party where they can really see each other interact with izumi, and a chunk zuko's summer child care plans for the summer fall apart so sokka offers to babysit since his summer job is remote which feels BIG but also reallyyyyy too convenient to reject,
and then something bigger happens where izumi gets hurt at school and while sokka is blaming himself he's also panicking bc the hospital wont let him stay with her bc hes not an emergency contact so he steels himself and later tells zuko he wants to make his relationship to izumi legal. hes not going to have a custody fight, he would never ask for that, but he wants his name on her birth certificate and wants his name on her list of emergency contacts, and its the first time zuko understand that sokka 100% knows what he's getting into here and is willing to be in this 100%.
So maybe sokka moves into this "uncle sokka" role, because zuko still refuses to tell izumi that sokka is her other dad, and yeah that hurts, but sokka would rather have part of izumi's life if he can't have all of it. and sokka gets a better look inside their lives and discovers that its HARD being a young single parent, why would zuko have risked everything he worked for to mix in some guy he barely knew who might decide that zuko wasn't good enough and take izumi away? and zuko sees the pain sokka has from missing out on so many key moments of izumi's young life, and the more sokka is proving himself as a second parent, the more guilty zuko feels. they go through some shit together and its more and more evident that sokka doesnt just want to be that fun uncle, but he's ready more than willing to be a PARENT even when it means being the bad guy.
and maybe they start falling for each other a little, because they are starting to have this LIFE together and its not just about izumi anymore its the way zuko rolls his eyes and gets the new fancy ice pack out of the freezer when a limping sokka brings izumi back from the park, and its the way sokka makes zuko genuinely laugh after a long day at work, and its like their lives are getting fully intertwined-
except that they arent. and they couldn't. because if sokka decides its too much. because if zukos good favor runs out. if it didnt work out between them. they couldnt do that to izumi. what they have is good, its fine, (even if its not enough) they dont want to risk anything that could disrupt izumi's life. shes the priority. and sure, she's already asking questions about the two of them, but what if they don't work right in a real relationship? the way things are now, either of them could back out, and everyone would eventually be ok. maybe. except every time they think about the possibility, it seems like they are already too intertwined, and either of them trying to untangle would just be a disaster, so imagine if they HAD to untangle, and-
so they just end up in an awkward stage of sad pining. because theres no way it would actually work out. because it would hurt all of them. and their life has never been better, but it's never hurt this much either.
ok so i didnt realize i could still write this long in an ask, but essentially i am not a masochist like you, and they do figure it out in the end. this could happen a number of ways, such as izumi just announcing that yeah this is my dad and his boyfriend, or zukka doing the "pining make outs that we never talk about until one of us snaps and we decide to let ourselves be fucking happy", or a very funny "we both snap and bone for one wonderful night to get it out of our system and then we dont talk about it" which leads to an accidental second baby where sokka and zuko both laugh and say whelp it must be fate lets do this the right way this time.
the most important thing is that they both forget to tell izumi that sokka is her biological father, so teenage izumi is very shocked and upset that shes just had to learn this from something totally mundane like applying for a passport, and sokka and zuko do the spider man finger pointing of "i thought you told her" "no, you were supposed to tell her" "did we really not tell her?" and its absolutely disgusting how cute they are
thanks for coming to my tedtalk
i love every single thing about this! sokka wanting to be a part of izumi's life and help zuko out....zuko being reluctant to accept but eventually seeing how sokka is proving himself.....the limbo period where they are both afraid it could end any moment....TOO GOOD! i love every single option for how they could get together for real like this is my favorite take on modern au divorced zukka by far!!!! <3 <3
#screaming over 'i am not a masochist like you' you got me#thank you SO MUCH for sharing this with me it is seriously amazing!!#i read it last night before going to sleep and then couldnt stop thinking about it for a while LMAO#divorced zukka#michkit#ask me stuff
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Hmm, while there is a grain of truth in the popular zutarian take on "Southern Raiders" ("Aang is preachy and Zuko cares for Katara's feelings"), reading this episode as an evidence that Zuko is a right partner for Katara still doesn't sit quite well with me (and I'm a zutara trash, mind you!)
The problem with this ep in general is what it mixes too many complex topics together, and it becomes difficult to entangle the mess.
Basically, Aang was wrong talking in terms of "revenge" and "forgiveness" and "Jet" and "Appa" instead of "Katara's mental health", but he was right in his general concern. Hatred is not some precious right a person needs to hold on. It's a destructive feeling which is better to manage adequately for the sake of a person's own well-being.
But wait, someone may ask, isn't that exactly what Zuko was offering? To help Katara manage her hatred?
Well, yes and no.
Yes, he was trying. No, this wasn't a good way to achieve it.
What many people don't seem to understand is that you don't need to confront the actual physical person you hate to deal with your hatred. Quite the opposite, actually. It's the person's imprint within your psyche what keeps destroying you from inside, and facing the person himself doesn't dissipate this imprint magically. It will only make things worse (*the only exception is when the both sides are genuinely interested in fixing things between them). You need to work with the imprint, and it's much easier to achieve when an object of your hatred is physically distant. No matter what kind of person you are, or what your moral/religious beliefs are, this is universal.
(It's a complex psychological topic I'm not really an expert on, so I'm not gonna go into much detail here. I'll just say what therapists have their ways to work with it).
I suspect Aang intuitively realized the problem, but with him being a 12-year-old monk and not having the needed skills or categorical apparatus, "forgiveness" was the best approximation to a right solution he could think of (I have no way of proving it though, so take it with a grain of salt as well as this whole post in general, lol).
While some idealization (and a lot of preaching) on Aang's part may have taken place, he saw "Katara's inner darkness" for what it was - a self-destructive tendency. She may think confronting Yon Rha is what she needs (although before Zuko introduced the idea, she didn't even think of the possibility), but it wouldn't be good for her. Sometimes, your loved ones are not right. Sometimes, they're about to hurt themselves. And it's not disrespectful to try and dissuade them from this (You'd think post-redemption Zuko of all people would agree with the sentiment).
Now, Zuko. While it's not his fault by any means I'm looking at you royal family, the way he dealt with the problem wasn't exactly the healthiest (or most selfless, as some people insist). He meant well, but offered a wrong method, and held on this specific method because it was something he personally could help Katara with. "It's the same as doing nothing!" - these are the words that kinda gave him away. I suspect it's not Katara's revenge or justice he was so passionate about, but his own chance of action. He was desperate for it. He didn't even stop to listen to her brother's and best friend's perspective, because it was interfering with his opportunity to be helpful, to be on the same side as Katara. In general, when your partner is too eager to side with you against your loving family, it's not a good sign, even when the family isn't perfect. (Well, okay, Aang's spectacularly poor choice of words had something to do with it as well. And where were you, Sokka-with-the-beard, when you were most needed?)
No one really offered a better practical solution to Katara's problem than Zuko though, that's the sad truth. And to be fair, after Katara had agreed to his plan enthusiastically, where was no better option for him than to go with it, I guess.
But... The bar was so low that offering nothing in the first place would be a better solution than this, honestly. Because no matter what the actual script of the episode says, I don't think this "life-changing field trip" would realistically do much good for Katara and result in her forgiveness. I think it would only hurt her more and would add to her list of irrational reasons to hate Zuko.
It may hurt, but as Katara herself made clear, there was nothing Zuko really could do at this point to help her or earn her forgiveness. It was something out of his control. He had to accept this and keep trying to do the right thing, simple as that.
I'm still a zutara trash, but not thanks to their interaction in this episode, I have to conclude.
(I guess what I'm really saying is that all those kids just need their therapy, lol)
Still typing on my phone and ignoring tumblr notifications. I wonder If anyone reads this at all lol
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I've seen many people shit on the live action atla ((as we should this is such a bad adaptation and honestly a mid show in itself)) but I haven't really seen people talk stuff about Sokka and Suki
And I want to point out a couple of things that I absolutely hated about what they did to them in live action.
1. The kiss
I hate that they made them kiss at the end of the episode. I hate it so much. Like yes, in the original they both clearly had feelings for each other (especially that later Suki talks about losing sb very important to her, who we know was Sokka), but they weren't rushed like that.
In the original they both grow so much between their meetings. Sokka finally gets together with a girl (not the first girl he meets that's his age, like Suki), kisses sb for the first time, travels the world, meets new people and in general matures.
We don't know much about what Suki is doing during that time, but we know she finally does sth that helps people during war, sth that she said was important to her. She can finally put her skills in leadership to greater use and she feels great about it. She also matures during that time and we know that she still thinks about Sokka and misses him.
Them kissing immediately makes their relationship so much more bland and just... flat.
2. If they make all three seasons, we will probably not get the most iconic line of the show...
Because now Sokka's first girlfriend is technically Suki...
3. The whole scene with Suki teaching Sokka
I cannot empathise enough how important Sokka's sexism is in their relationship. It's something that Suki fixes in him, something she manages to show him... by absolutely kicking his ass. In live action... the fight scene next to those melons was a joke not a fight scene if I can be honest. Idk if it's the writing or the choreography or the actors but it looks so fake and just so bad 💀 And she attacked him while he was still "stretching"??? Suki would never.
What is this 💀💀
But the most important scene, and the one I hate the most in live action, is the one where Suki teaches him a very sacred and traditional and important to Suki and to her culture way of fighting.
In the original, Suki highlights that no man should learn their art and only after Sokka begs Suki to teach him does she agree.
But not without a very important piece that was fully missing from live action which baffles me so much.
The entire armor, the dress and make up.
Not only is it incredibly important to upholding the traditions and keeping the cultural aspect important, but the beautiful, might I add, outfit gives us the depth of Kyoshi Warriors that is just missing from the live action.
"The silk thread symbolizes the brave blood that flows through our veins. The gold insignia represents the honor of the warrior's heart."
It's beautiful. It's meaningful for both of them. It's important. And it's also a way for Suki to mess with Sokka which we love and stan.
I ALSO DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SUKI TOOK OFF HER MAKE UP FOR THE ALMOST KISS AND THE KISS. It's not like being a Kyoshi Warrior is sth that's bothering her. NO. She's incredibly proud of it!! So. why. take. an. important. part. of. it. away. for. some. stupid. kiss.
WHY NOT GO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION?? Instead of her taking off her make up for the romantic scene why not just... put make up on Sokka... honestly what's more romantic than putting make up on your crush.
They could have made such a beautiful and intimate scene between these two.
Them sitting in front of each other. Suki putting on Sokka's make up, while either talking about herself or about how important this whole set up is for her and her culture. I wouldn't mind it then because it would give their relationship some depth instead of "omg he's so pretty" "omg she's so pretty." *kiss*
But no. Instead they kissed right next to a group of people (including Suki's mother which just makes is so much more weird) after Suki said sth about Sokka showing her a bit of the world.
And I hate it so much.
It takes away the part where Suki teaches Sokka something very important, something that changes his personality, helps with his arc to Sokka "showing her a bit of the world". How?? With what?? It's not like he took her away from the Island itself or introduced her to his culture. No. He just... showed up and kissed her.
Great writing.
And don't get me starter on the "I'm not just a warrior. I'm a Kyoshi Warrior" line. It's a good line. It really is. But it would be better if the producers actually focused on Suki being a Kyoshi Warrior and not just a girl that has a crush on Sokka.
And while it's compared to "I'm a warrior. But I'm a girl too"... gods I... ughhhhhhh
So yeah. I hated it. I hated the show. All I have to say is:
They ruined my favourite couple. They ruined many great characters. They completely missed the point of the original story.
#and man it hurts me so much how they “matured” Aang#he has like three goofy lines but besides that he's a fucking philosopher#why#why would they do that#i could talk about why this show is so bad for hours really#i don't mind there being changes but not like that#oh! and btw this isn't hate on the actors#i actually think they would be perfect sokka and suki if the writing was good#looking at the screen of their kiss makes me so happy honestly!!#but then i remember the context and i want to bang my head on the wall#so yeah this is a hate post on the writers and netflix#live action avatar the last airbender#atla#avatar the last airbender#avatar the last airbender live action#avatar#avatar live action#sokka#suki#sukka#sokka x suki
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Prompt idea based on your soulmate AU where people are tied to the wrist once they meet their soulmate, and they stay tied until both (or more) parties admit their feelings.
In this au idea, Zuko is tied to Sokka. Which makes capturing the Avatar an awkward affair. This helps to (gradually) jumpstart the Zuko redemption arc. But neither Zuko or Sokka admit their feelings and they remain tied together up to book 2 (or longer)
Aang and Katara were also tied together but they admitted their feeling early on. Perhaps after the Jet affair?
Then once we get Azula’s introduction in book 2 in Omashu and later during the chase, Azula Mocks/laughs at Zuko for still being tied to his soulmate. Azula keeps laughing until she gets closer to Aang and Katara. The two parties exchanging bending attacks.
Azula’s laughter is abruptly put to a stop when a cosmic force bring her, Aang, and Katara closer together and ties all three of their wrist together (or reties them to each other and ties to the scary but pretty fire princess in the case of Katara and and Aang).
All three are of course dumbfounded. Simply staring at one another with wide eyes. Azula for her part can’t believe that she not only has two soulmates, but one of them is the Avatar (that she should either be capturing or slaying). While the other is a (admittedly pretty) peasant water bender. Any plans she had to either get her brother back home, win the war for the fire nation, or gain her lord fathers approval has been put to a sudden deafening halt.
For his part? Now it’s Zuko’s to turn to laugh uncontrollably and mock his sister for still being tied to her soulmate(s).
How do you think canon would evolve from here?
Thanks for the ask!
Ohhhhhhhh. I really like this idea!
Hmmmm...
For one, Zuko would never stop laughing. Not only is his sister how tied to her soulmates but she's tied to two of them. Katara is on one side and Aang is one the other. Firebending for Zuko is hard now that he has someone chained to his right hand but it becomes impossible for Azula. The only techniques she'd be able to do are firebreathing and smaller firebending moves.
Azula can't exactly go back to her camp with the Avatar and a waterbender being declared as her soulmates, so she'd forced to go with them. I think she would say that they have to go get Mai and Ty Lee though (Mai would definitely laugh a little when she sees Azula cuffed to Aang and Katara while Ty Lee would think it's sweet).
Aang runs into a bit of an issue because it's hard to earthbend when you only have one hand and your soulmate is tied to your other one and constantly messing you up.
Zuko and Sokka have already had a season and a half to work together and know how to operate. They might not be 100% ready to confess but they can function just fine while handcuffed. I imagine Iroh would be with the Gaang and helped Zukka, but he'd definitely have some words for his niece about how thing is a good thing.
Whenever I have Iroh with the Gaang, I like to think that the library and Appa being taken don't happen because Iroh is going to have a map of the Fire Nation and he'd know about the eclipse (I think), but you could go either way here. It would be a sweet moment to have Aang and Katara protect Azula from Wan Shi Tong, who wouldn't want any more Fire Nationals in his library.
Azula, Katara and Aang being a couple would be very interesting. Katara notices Azula’s nails dig into Appa’s saddle when they first take off so she offers her a reassuring smile and starts talking to her to calm her down. Azula and Katara talking about their mother. Aang making spicy food for Azula because she misses it from the Fire Nation. And, of course, the nightmare and comfort content for all three of them.
Ba Sing Se would be when Zuko and Sokka confess. It could be during one of their tales or during the final battle, but they confess in Ba Sing Se. Azula is no where near being ready to confess by the time of Ba Sing Se.
The only thing is that I don’t know how in denial Azula would be. She’s literally tied to her soulmates but I don’t know how willing she’d be to give up pleasing her father and it’s not like she can conquer Ba Sing Se with Katara and Aang attached to her.
This all being said, Toph, Ty Lee and Mai are loving this show.
#ask#soulmate’s tied together AU#azula#katara#zuko#sokka#aang#ty Lee#Mai#toph beifong#avatar the last airbender#zukka#Azulaang#azutara
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Quick list of things I particularly loved from NATLA Episode 3 - Omashu before my in-depth overview
The whole rebellion inside the Fire Nation - love seeing EVERYONE fighting back
"I think that's what they said - I never listened." ^_^
"What makes you think we're outsiders?"
"We ARE Fire Nation, even out here"
"Irrigation, am I right?" :D
Aang darting through a crowd messing up everyone's day - just straight from the animated!
And the first tease of the cabbage merchant!!!
Our Gaang wasting NO time after the explosion to run in and help
Bloodthirsty Teo ready to recruit Aang to carpet bombing the Fire Nation - yet another example of children's morals and sense of self being warped by this war
How proud Teo is of his father!!
Sokka being able to show his interest in tinkering and engineering!!!
And did I spy some ECLIPSE glasses????
Aang's "no, I'm not going to just leave people in trouble, I'm going to stay and help them any way I can" moment
"He's done the impossible" in the most mocking voice imaginable! XD Adore that Azula isn't afraid to mock her father
And Mai and Tylee cameos!!!!
And the Yuyan archers! So many hints to the future here
Katara practicing her waterbending forms even in the background - really showing that she's taking every opportunity to hone her skills - she's not just perfect immediately
JEEEEETTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!
Honestly first thought cart-boy might have been Haru, but once he caught the Mechanist meeting with the spy, my Jet senses started tingling
Jet's combat - perfect! Katara's skills - growing!!
LOVE how there's such a marked upgrade in Katara's control from her single ball of water and big splash of last episode to her controlled twin water ball attacks
Jet's bird-whistle signal
I started giggling maniacally, knowing what was coming!!
And that DAMN piece of straw XD
Sokka saying 'No, my role is to be a warrior and protect the village' with the most heartbreaking look on his face as he sees the skills he truly loves being devalued (or the perception that their devalued) and then Sai reassuring him and his frown turning into a hopeful look on the verge of a smile. Seriously, my heart, guys
Chills every time Smellerbee throws up her hand and shouts "Freedom Fighters!" and the whole camp cheers - really you see how they're a family, a community, healing together the best way they know how
Honestly, everything with Jet is great - him actually giving GOOD advice to Katara, making him a real person rather than someone who only cares about himself - I believe this Jet actually cares about Katara the person, not just Katara the weapon
Also the fact that there's only the small hand-brush as a romantic gesture, the rest of Katara and Jet's interactions keep strictly platonic - nowhere near as charged as all Sokka's interactions with Suki and Yue
Katara's mom smiling in the sunrise D;
Zuko's annoyance at Iroh loving the city XD
And Lotus tile reference!!
Sokka's paper bird!!!
And oooohhh here comes the fighting!
Such a great choice to pit the Mechanist (Sokka) against Jet (Katara) where they're BOTH bad! This isn't a one sibling is right scenario - both their new allies are doing bad stuff! Very juicy and great plot thread/theme weaving
"To prove you're a jerk!" "Oh yeah, well I don't need proof of that!!"
Cabbage merchant tease #2!!
SSCCAARRRFF ZUUUTTAARRRAAAAAAAAAAA
"This guy - again?" *rolly eyes*
Sokka's first mad plan!! Riding the crates to the palace!!
The Zuko/Aang fight - beautiful, stunning, stylized, classic
Zuko being beaten by a woman furious that he's hitting a child
"YOU READ MY DIARY!!!!!!!!" sorry, "YOU HAVE MY NOTEBOOK!!"
MY CABBAGEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!!!
Water HAWHIP!!!!
Iroh's first firebending in the show is him using it to draw attention to him so Zuko can escape :( not to harm anyone, but to protect
Aang's little "Uh oh o.o"
This was the first episode where it ended and I thought "I HAVE to watch the next one RIGHT NOW"
Damn you cliffhangers
[Masterlist of my NATLA thoughts]
#natla#avatar the last airbender#netflix avatar#atla#natla spoilers#sokka#katara#aang#jet#the mechanist#omashu
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atla live action thoughts: episodes 7 & 8
SPOILERS AHEAD
tw: opinions
things i liked:
i keep forgetting to say this but i love the stylization of the opening credits it looks so elegant
northern water tribe looks beautiful. the spirit oasis is stunning, this show almost never fails to deliver on visuals
i fucking KNEW they were going to end the season with azula producing lightning for the first time and it looks great i won't lie. can't wait for her blue fire
the pakku v katara fight is not bad actually, though it obviously doesn't hold a candle to the original. glad they kept the ice discs moment in because that was iconic and it does have a nice set-up of her learning it from the earthbenders
i do like that they allow aang to interact with different avatars and that they all give him different perspectives. it highlights the differences in their personalities and how the role of the avatar had to be adapted to the times they lived in
i can't remember exactly what it was but aang's line about how this isn't his world or his time went hard
"i underestimated zhao" "funny i figured that out as i was swimming away from the burning wreckage of my boat" i live for sassy zuko
good decision to take out pakku only deciding to teach katara because she was kanna's granddaughter. that reeked of exceptionalism and never sat right with me, so i appreciate that she at least proves herself and also that she includes the other women in the tribe when pushing him to let them fight
yugoda getting to yell at pakku for being a misogynistic idiot is exactly what she deserves, you tell him queen
KOIZILLA!!
seeing the fall of omashu to azula was an addition that made a lot of sense, and sets up the return to omashu episode in the next season nicely
things i disliked:
yue's wig was atrocious. can't believe i'm saying this but the shyamalan movie did it better. amber midthunder deserved so much better
the misogyny arc was a godforsaken mess. the northern water tribe is still sexist... but no one seems to be sexist except for pakku?? chief arnook seems to be grooming yue to take over as chief, the other male waterbenders are impressed by katara and respect her right away, yue seems to have a lot of autonomy, hahn is respectful and kind, and then pakku himself changes his mind on women fighting pretty much within one day. so what was the point of including it at all?
this show has completely nuked katara's rage. she would not be calmly announcing that she's fighting pakku as though it was a calculated decision because it very much wasn't! it was her sense of righteousness and outrage over injustice taking over and it hurts me deeply that they removed that because it's so important to who she is! i needed to see a LOT more power and fury in her in this scene but instead it felt extremely lukewarm
KATARA AND AANG NEVER. FUCKING. LEARN. WATERBENDING. for a show that marketed itself so heavily with the tagline "master your element" there isn't a lot of mastering going on here?? i'm sorry i don't buy at ALL that katara would be able to become a master with One waterbending scroll and watching some earthbenders. i know she's a prodigy but no one can be THAT prodigious. and it really makes her fight with zuko and subsequently being called master katara fall flat because i don't think i've been shown enough to justify that
also hate that my girl got knocked out halfway through the zutara fight because of the moon wtaf let her kick zuko's ass
a moment of silence for "aren't you a big girl now" and "you rise with the moon, i rise with the sun" you will always be famous
despite knowing the avatar needs to learn waterbending, pakku and arnook just?? walk away?? when they find out he hasn't??? SOMEONE TEACH THIS POOR BOY AN ELEMENT OTHER THAN AIR. ANY ELEMENT, I'M BEGGING
real quick, who had "momo saves a random little girl from falling rock only to be nearly killed and saved by yue and sokka in the spirit oasis" on their live action bingo? no one, that's who, BECAUSE THAT'S FUCKING BONKERS. people are dying all around them but sokka and yue decide this is the time to fuck off to save a lemur?? please be so fr
iroh telling zuko to remember his breath of fire when this show has not once established (at least, iirc) that power in firebending comes from the breath is... something. heavily dislike how little focus was given to the intricacies of learning bending in this series
HATE that they removed zhao dying because of koizilla and gave it to iroh instead. that was such a great moment of karmic justice for zhao and really highlighted how he brought about his own downfall through his pride and arrogance. i know they tried to show zuko's compassion by having him spare zhao and walk away (as a callback to the agni kai i'm guessing) but zuko risking himself to save the life of the man who tried to kill him in the original just hit SO much harder.
the pacing of the north pole arc in general was FAR too rushed. at least in the original animation we got the sense that they'd spent weeks there, but in the show it feels like it's been a couple of days MAX. there had to be much more time to build up the threat of the fire nation and the yue/sokka relationship
the sense of time passing was a problem i anticipated the show would have from the start because 8 episodes just feels shorter than 20, but i wish they'd at least done some montages or something to make it seem like time was passing between episodes. as it is, it felt like every episode picked up right after the previous and so the whole season felt like it happened within a week or two. which is a shame because it weakens the epic scale of their journey in having to cross the entire world
overall rating: 6/10. unfortunately i think these episodes were the weakest of the series both in quality of writing and entertainment value, but still fun to watch for the most part
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Krew Gaang time-travel fic where Krew get knocked back in time to like the day after Zuko joins the Gaang because of spirit-power tech shenanigans that went out of control(the experimenting was done by bad people who saw what Kuvira’s giant mech could do and wanted to test further).
Right when they land, Aang realizes he suddenly can’t use airbending and earthbending. Korra and the crew have landed in a random fire-earth colony and she can’t bend water and fire(this is happening because two avatars at one time). Asami and Bolin figure out where and when exactly they are and decide to find Gaang to help them out as discretely as possible without telling everything about the future, and also to find a way back because the only thing better than one bridge between spirit & mortal worlds is TWO bridges.
Sokka & Asami get along like house on fire. They’re both bringing out the mad scientist in each other and there is a reason they didn’t exist at the same time.
Sokka: Are you a non-bender lightning bender????
Asami, shrugging: I guess I am. Maybe we can recreate it here.
Bolin is silently dying and freaking out about everyone. He sees Toph and is trying to be like “hey i got lava-bending!!” and is trying to show-off but also learn he’s just very confused on wtf to do. Toph is like “tf teach me exactly how you did that”. Bolin is very happy that Toph is bossing him around and Toph is living for this.
Toph, sitting on Bolin’s shoulder trying to be the badgermole(which Toph said is real earthbender training she’s totally not messing with him): ‘Everyone should treat me with this amount of respect’
Bolin, enthusiastic: ‘Absolutely!’
Korra is calling Katara ‘Master Katara’ all the time and Katara’s so so happy about it. But Korra’s also pinching her cheeks and being like “wow you were so tiny! I mean you still are but you’re so SMALL!’. Korra and Aang are besties and Aang is finally relaxing because Korra’s obviously older and knows more, and she also has a stronger connection to the spirit world so she’s helping him out with that. She never thought she’d be teaching Aang anything. Aang’s seen visions of other avatars but seeing someone else alive is just, different. Makes him feel less alone, especially when Korra airbends(oh yeah Aang obviously teaches her all the games). Korra’s also very conflicted but also kinda glad that they didn’t let her go until she was older because she can’t imagine having to deal with all this when she was 12. She gets super-protective of all of them and kinda wants to stay and finish this for the Gaang but knows she can’t.
Mako and Zuko are being awkward in the corner like “we must be careful, vigilant, the Fire Nation is dangerous.” You think they’d get along but they DON’T. Mako can’t shake that the kid next to him is the former firelord, but he sees Zuko do something utterly fucking stupid w/ zero planning and is like “how did you survive to like 100 years old???”.
It’s always like-
Mako: What’s the plan?
Zuko: I break into a prison
Mako: That’s not a plan
Zuko: It absolutely is you child!
Mako: I’m technically older than you right now twerp
#krew#gaang#tlok#atla#avatar#avatar the last airbender#the legend of korra#korra#aang#asami#katara#sokka#bolin#toph#zuko#mako
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This is a big ask so don't feel like you have to, but would you be interested in pitching some summaries of the fics you have up on Ao3? I know there are summaries up there, but I like the casual way you have with words and you say fuck a lot and I dunno yeah
omg this is so funny bc i know the exact way with words you're talking about and of course im not gonna pass up a chance to promote my own work hehe YOU GOT IT!
i have 20 atla fics so I'm going to recommend them in order of... least to most kudos??? to try to trick people into reading more of my stuff? lol idk
I'm 99% sure all of these are Zukka fics...
The Last Five Years - ok actually this is a bad place to start bc i don't think im gonna finish it. it just really didn't take off but um its a The Last Five Years AU with really fucking sad Divorced Zukka
Do Not Stand At My Grave and Cry - this is i think my newest one, it has trans zukka and it's a bit angsty with a fake death but i also think it's kind of fun. it's the idea trans people have of ''who's going to care if my family puts the wrong name on my gravestone?" but there IS a happy ending
A Problem Halved is a Problem Shared - im gonna be honest i dont fucking remember writing this one lol but it says dialogue-only and it WILL be angsty bc it is about zuko and sokka dealing with different issues they have
One Last Time (and its sequel The End of All Things) - Actually OLT is definitely one of my faves I ever wrote. It's my canon-compliant take on um... *cough* Sokka's death, referenced in Korra. It's SO angsty but it has one of the most visceral scenes I've ever written and I DID cry writing this. TEoAT is the happy ending Divorced Zukka deserved with bonus Iroh but you WILL cry reading that too. BUT i cant fucking recommend these ones enough!!!!
If I fade away (the awful things we do to make the head go quiet) - VERY dead dove. trans zuko needs to pay a MASSIVE price to get home to the Fire Nation after Ba Sing Se, and it's not his choice at all. I love this but READ WITH CAUTION
In Which Sokka is Supportive Ally Boyfriend Goals - I am dead serious i like dont remember this one at all but i know it has trans zuko!
Nourishing the Flame Within - not the best written tbhtbh BUT it does have two very important Zukos in it that I hold to be universally true: trans zuko and eating disorder zuko
bad idea right? - okay this is DEF one of my faves lol its about divorced zukka but they just cant stop messing things up and sleeping with each other even though theyre not together anymore lolol
Keeping it in the Family - lmao OKAY SO this is the ONE version of zukka that im like 'ok all u z*tara folks, maybe zuko WAS with her and it obvs didnt work' and then he hooks up with sokka instead and its GREAT but oops now we have Family Drama
Scars of Trust - bro im not gonna like i barely remember writing this one but i remember I LOVE IT and it's about sokka who has been dating zuko a while but he finally learns that zuko is trans? its great
Playing the Long Game - eh, i don't love it, but I'd say it's worth a read. it was my first longer fic in the fandom. it DOES have a great Zukki evolution though if you're into that, and a nice mystery!! Also some whump and angst bc of course
Keeping Score - I liked this one! It's just little snippets of times Sokka has survived assassination attempts, because we always hear about it happening to Zuko, but Sokka gets them too. Angst obviously
It Was Cruel and It Was Wrong - wow, a dead dove fic, yes. It's basically like "If I'm Joo Lee and you're Joo Lee, then who's flying the bison?" Yeah so Sokka and Zuko are both brainwashed by the Dai Lee and Suffering but be careful because this gets DARK
Mother - Izumi has two dads but she feels bad she doesn't have a mom. But guess what, her dads don't have moms either!! She's very happy to find that out! Wow Izumi, way to have some sympathy.
Impact - It's about Zuko taking a longer time to recover from an assassination attempt than he'd want, and Sokka being loving and patient with him! I wrote this when I had a bad concussion for like three weeks and so it's pretty like. Medically accurate lol
Scratchy - Short and sweet. I don't remember this one much but I know that it is fluffy and involves turtle ducks!
Hidden Pain, Shared Love - Another short and fluffy one. It's about the first time Zuko sees that Sokka has problems with his leg sometimes?
Zuko and Sokka Get Engaged in the Most Zukka Way Possible - okay i actually really love this one because it's on brand and cute and also i made it fucking angsty because oF COURSE
Zuko Amongst the Dragons - yes so what if zuko was raised by dragons and met the gaang but he was super feral? and what if shenanigans ensued? AND what if sokka and zuko fell in love anyway????
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more silly college gaang headcanons! i made a post like this for the high school au a while back so i’m gonna revamp that with 🍂 college gaang in the autumn 🍁
masterpost 🐿️
fall weather enthusiasts: sokka, katara, mai, suki, zuko
absolute cold weather HATERS: azula, toph, ty lee, aang
aang tries not to be a hater in any aspect of his life but at the end of the day he is not built to be chilly !!!!!
toph just doesn’t like that shoes season is approaching for her
zuko despite being more tolerant of heat than most just likes to wear warm fall clothes
azula is a bitter hater as soon as the temperature drops under 60 degrees (me too)
aang is absolutely an iced pumpkin cold foam chai addict
the whole gaang spends a saturday going pumpkin and apple picking
they come back and carve pumpkins outside sokka and aang’s dorm building because sokka drove them to the pumpkin patch
toph commissions sokka to make the scariest face possible on her pumpkin. he makes it extremely cute.
as the resident artist on the team he does a lot of helping the rest of the gaang with their pumpkins
katara is way too much of a perfectionist with hers but it does pay off, she makes a perfect pumpkin
azula smashes hers because her carving was off center
she’s so me
aang tries to carve appa into his but it looks more like a huge blob and he is proud of it regardless
toph's hatred towards the cold translates to her not buying her own fall or winter clothes
"since when were you on a high school swim team" "this sweatshirt is katara's dont tell her"
she especially loves to steal merch for stuff she obviously didn't do / go to
south pole music festival 2023? sokka's. eras tour? ty lee's. ba sing se university one acts festival? zuko's.
cheerleader ty lee, color guard suki, and women's rugby toph all have sports in season and zuko and ty lee are working on the fall musical
everyone gets bundled up to go to the football games to see ty lee and suki every home game
every away game mai and sokka drive there to support their gfs as long as it's an hour or less away
everyone goes to see the fall musical too
even if ty lee isn't the lead and tbh there is something so special to me about ty lee in ensemble (me core)
they all see it at least once, sokka goes to every show to take pictures
none of them celebrate thanksgiving obviously but they do still get that break mid semester
maybe they're all from around the same place? maybe not? maybe the set up is exactly like it is in the atla universe and theyre from seperate corners of the world? but as of right now i don't think it matters
everyone visits iroh at zuko and azula's home for that mid semester break :)
they also visit hakoda and bato!
not toph's family though she actually doesn't tell them she even has a break
the gaang does a pie making contest in the communal dorm kitchen
they make a mess. they spend the same amount of if not more time cleaning this mess as they did actually baking.
the teams were pulled from a hat so we got sokka and toph, katara and zuko, aang and azula, and one group of three with mai, ty lee and suki
sokka and toph's pie was perfect because toph did not help
katara and zuko's was so incredibly disgusting
aang and azula's was not even recognizable as a pie and also on fire
the group of three also made a perfect pie
sokka and toph won because sokka made a lattice crust and no one else knew how to do that
okay this post is getting long so im gonna stop here ily have a great day !! thanks for reading :)
#atla#avatar the last airbender#avatar#katara#sokka#toph#zuko#aang#suki#atla mai#ty lee#atla suki#modern atla#the gaang#kataang#mai lee#zukka#sukka#uncle iroh#modern avatar au#modern avatar#atla au#atla college au#atla modern au
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I am asking about your zukka mitski playlist because my interest has been peaked !!
hi anon i am aware that this ask was sent on july 1st and your interest is no longer piqued so oops and sorry :(
here is the playlist link in case u still want to listen to it and ill talk about it a bit under the read more!!
hiiii so the funny thing about this playlist is that it was from before i even started posting about divorced zukka but i still had the headcanon of zuko and sokka dating when younger, breaking up, and then getting back together as middle aged adults. the playlist follows that exact same sequence cause im too lazy to write the fic so this is my way of writing the divorced zukka fic
ok so im not gonna explain the whole thing but I'll try to be a bit brief about what the songs talk about without getting into Why cause i know i'll be here for hours if i do so
1-3: sokka's section. it is set in canon and the vibe here is "i need to be strong, i need to be brave and tough like my father, like a real man, i have depression, i need to be the warrior, i do all the protecting but who is going to save me, i'm just asking for a kiss, one day i am going to die, etc"
4-9: zuko's section. set in canon up till "working for the knife" which is about him being firelord which suuuuucks. ehh you get the gist of it he is flawed, he is fucked up, he doesn't know what he wants, he is the forest fire, he is watching himself burn, he just needs something that will fill him up, etc and then he is crowned firelord and he gets worse but in a different way
10-11: classic sokka and zuko parallelism. hungry to be something they cannot be, thinking that that thing is what they should want, that that is what they are really hungry for. Wrong
12-13: set in the boiling rock. both would be from sokka's perspective and first love late spring is there because of how zuko holds sokka back from doing this reckless thing alone and end up killing himself "one word from you and i would jump off of this ledge im on baby. tell me don't so i can crawl back in" and heat lightning is about sokka surrendering and giving in to accepting that he needs help, he can't do this alone and so he allows zuko and co to carry this load with him and work together to get out of tbr
14-15: zuko and sokka start dating years after the war. "come into the water" is basically "come here, let's take this risk together. we both know it could be a mess but we don't really care about that right now, tell me you want me to do this and i'll come into the water with you" and for a while, it is all good. sokka and zuko start falling in love, they start taking care of each other, thinking that they can heal like this together and it'll all be good. there is still some issues in there like sokka's protectiveness that can end up hurting him "while you sleep, i'll be scared. so by the time you wake, ill be brave" but during that period in their relationship, they feel like nothing can get to them as long as they're together in their safe space.
16-18: the problems arise. they both knew that this had to be secret because of zuko's position, homosexuality being illegal in the fire nation, the assassination attempts that could worsen if the truth came out, and both their reputations but it's hard keeping it secret when they wish they could be like this not only behind locked doors. as well as that, sokka feels inferior here in the fire nation and it's not just the way the court talks about and at him and the way he's treated because of the fire nation's racism, it's that feeling that in a way he is betraying the water tribe, his family, his mother, everyone. what is he doing here in a nation that caused him and everyone so much harm? and he can separate how he feels about zuko from how he feels about the fire nation but it feels wrong sometimes, they feel like the same person sometimes.
18: this could also be seen as the proposal gone wrong or what leads up to it. they both aren't talking things through with full honesty, they try to avoid conflict cause their relationship is their one good thing at the moment. "sorry i can't take your touch, it's not that i don't want you" is basically sokka refusing the proposal to me. those aren't his words, they both just burst out at each other and make it all a mess. and sokka wants zuko but he can't sacrifice himself to spend his whole life there in a nation that he just doesn't feel right in, which might be one of sokka's few "im doing this for me" moments, and so this ends their relationship. huzzah.
19: breakup song. thinking that's where you loved me. me too zukka
20-21: classic zuko self-deprecation momence. "when you leave me, i should die. i deserve it, don't i?" and "i don't blame you if you want to bury me in your memory, im not the boy i ought to be" etc
22: sokka's lament. "i know i ended it but why won't you chase after me?" i know that this is what i must do but why won't you come back and try to change my mind? what if you just don't care anymore? why didn't you stop me even if we both know that we can't change this?
23: "you're my best friend now i have no one to tell how i lost my best friend" no comment
24: aghhhh this love is a star it's so gone now it's so over
25: we are so back!!!! as reluctant friends. this is zuko and sokka's first formal reunion together where they actually sit down together and awkwardly talk and pretend they don't have feelings. they are both lying when they say they haven't told anyone ofc they have. in my mind, this is when zuko has izumi now and they're catching up and trying to be friends again
26-27: that doesn't fucking work, they don't want to be friends. they always want each other when they think they're finally fine, they're both foolish to bet on this "whatever it is" when they know they're bound to lose. they want each other but they can't have each other, they hold the cards, they have a chance but taking that risk could ruin everything
28: oh my gooood fuck it let's hook up for old time's sake but also we both know that this shit won't go anymore but let's take this chance only for today (becomes a frequent thing every time sokka visits)
29: sokka has a realization and finds out that zuko still does have feelings. he wanted him but he couldn't reach sokka again, he's been keeping all of him in his memory to try to keep that love and now Sokka knows. oh shit wtf what now?
30: zuko and sokka have a talk. they have a small moment. maybe there is slow dancing involved. it really was foolish of us to think that we could stay the same. it would be so wonderful to go back to when we were younger, that short time was beautiful while it lasted. we both know that there is love in here but it can't happen again. im sorry
31: SIKE!!!! WE ARE SO BACK FR THIS TIME. you are the one i want, you're the one i've got, i'm not wasting this one lifetime without you. i will be the one you need, the way i can't be without you
32: zukka undivorced arc baby zukka back together. i know i've kissed you before but i didn't do it right, i haven't kissed you the way i should. let me kiss you like it used to be, not hurried or desperate, let me do it right and let me try again and again and again until we get it right. maybe there is no way to get it right and perfect but they still kiss so it's a perfect excuse
33: zuko and sokka retire, zuko ends the monarchy, they run off to the water tribe together just like they planned from the beginning. they could be anywhere but it doesn't matter where, they just want to be still with each other
34: *sokka voice* yue i just had a weird prophetic dream so if i die, look after zuko for me
35: sokka death scene amv. zuko loses sokka forever this time and there's no coming back now. he doesn't know how to be strong anymore if sokka isn't here to see him
36: zuko death scene amv. go get your stupid death on a rocking chair all calm and peaceful, old man
37: end credits
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Bitter Work
Life took me out at the knees for a couple of weeks but I'm back! I'm hoping this is a nice restful episode after the relentlessness of The Chase.
I have to say, Toph's nicknaming skills are on point. I never would have thought of Sugarqueen, but it fits perfectly.
This is me. Every morning.
Full nose plant from Appa.
And the beat up Sokka quota is fulfilled. Very funny Toph, but completely uncalled for. If someone had catapulted teenage me 50 feet into the air while I was trying to sleep, it would have been fully justifiable homicide.
Aang is always trying to run before he can walk. What was Iroh always saying to Zuko about basics? Aang needs that speech too.
I was really on the ball in my post about how airbenders aren't homicidal, actually. Rock is a stubborn element. Yay me!
Aang earthbends = Earth bends Aang.
Seriously, how did he mess up that badly?
Cozy.
Thank you Zuko for the incredibly obvious exposition that's somehow completely in character. Interesting to see that Iroh and his son had brown hair, but Zuko seems to have black hair. More hair variety in the Fire Nation than I thought.
Tangent time! I love the contrast in social intelligence (I guess that's the term?) in this scene. Zuko wakes Iroh up with an infodump, some bad tea, and then gets straight to discussing strategy. Iroh's first actions are to compliment the bad tea, then dispose of the refill in a way that won't hurt Zuko's feelings (probably not necessary, as Zuko seems to be the type that's oblivious to all things other than the task at hand when he's focused). Iroh, injured and awake for all of 15 seconds, jumps straight to actions that help look after his nephew. And Zuko is trying! That's why he made tea! But still, he doesn't even ask if his uncle's feeling ok. Zuko has such a massive gap in his education - he can probably reel off the specs of all Fire Nation battleships, but he doesn't know how to be a human person. Contrast that with Iroh, and especially Katara, who makes friends and connections with such aggressive forwardness that she's at times more steamroller than teenage girl. It's funny how privilege plays into this too - Zuko comes from probably the single most privileged (on paper) family in the world, yet it's the children of the impoverished water tribe who have the more well-rounded education/socialisation.
"She's crazy and she needs to go down" go a full belly laugh out of me.
"What if I came at the boulder from a different angle?" Jesus I was REALLY on point with my post about the airbenders. Credit where credit is due, this show has such good writing/worldbuilding that viewers have picked up what Toph is laying out in this episode already. Also a little bit of stealth character work in there - since Toph is putting into words what we've been thinking this whole time, she now reads as trustworthy. This show is so good. So thought out.
Maybe it's just VLC being weird, but methinks Katara is having some trouble with her eyeball.
Katara STOP BABYING HIM. This is why I don't like Aang having a crush on her.
Honestly it's refreshing to have Toph giving it to Aang straight, no softening the blows.
I really like this texture.
Sokka's club is a giant bottle opener. Or at least a multitool.
ROCK SUITS
wait
ELEMENTAL FASHION
oh this is going to be haybending all over again.
They are totally going to have to nerf this girl. She could defeat the Fire Lord right now.
Earth beats water tribe
Someome who knows more about tea than I do: Why are both pots necessary?
"requires peace of mind" well that's out. Sorry Zuko, we'll have to get you a taser instead.
"So we're drinking tea to calm down?"
"not it's to get the nasty ass taste of the sludge you brewed out of my mouth. I mean yes."
For what's looking like an extended training montage, this episode is far funnier than it needs to be.
I pretty much don't notice Zuko's scar anymore (it's just part of his character design) then every so often a certain frame of animation will come out of the blue and remind me that this kid's missing half his face. I don't know if it's intentional on the part of the animators, but his scar is prominent this episode.
So it sounds like bending lightning actually corresponds with how lightning in our world works. Neat.
In an absolutely Shocking turn of events (pun absolutely intended), Zuko fucks it up. Fucking shit up: the autobiography of a Fire Prince. Has a nice ring to it.
Toph I know you go hard, but maybe apply a sense of proportion to this?
It kind of looks like Aang's about to be run over by a giant scoop of caramel ice cream.
Toph is such an interesting mishmash of bluntness and emotional intelligence. I don't think I've seen a character like that before.
Zuko being self aware for once! Everything always does explode in his face. Except when he's being the Blue Spirit. Seems he's more capable then.
It's a tragedy that this boy wasn't around for the emo movement. He would have single-handedly sustained Hot Topic.
Zuko going "WHAT TURMOIL?!?!?" is like Katara going "I'M COMPLETELY CALM!!!!!" last episode. Also got a laugh out of me.
"I'm as proud as ever." OF WHAT?!?!? What could he possibly be proud of? He's a homeless fugitive with a stolen horse bird and a half-dead uncle that he can't even properly brew tea for. The self-delusion is strong.
Is pride the source of shame? Honest question, I don't know.
There's a surprising variety of trees in this part of the Earth Kingdom. Where Zuko and Iroh are there are fluffly hardwoods, probably deciduous; Toph's training ground is ringed by cartoon pines.
This whole bit is too cute for words.
"Now come back boomerang" This is a training episode, it's not supposed to be this funny!
Are there voice acting awards? Like voice acting oscars? Sokka's actor needs one. Or several.
I should have waited to answer the ask about airbenders and just copy pasted Iroh's speech here. Except for the water = change bit. That doesn't make sense.
What can I possibly say about Iroh's speech? It's the thesis for this show in a single paragraph.
Pretty.
Are characters' eyes a different shape this episode? Aang's eyes change colour all the time, but everyone's eyes seem more cat-like.
I do love me some constructive bullying.
Sokka is so refreshingly self-aware while still totally oblivious. He is meat and sarcasm, but he's so much more!
"Have you got any meat?" He said that in an Irish accent.
"You're gonna pull my fingers off and I don't think the rest of me is coming!"
Do you ever come across a sentence that is so obviously an innuendo that your brain trips over itself trying to decipher it?
Sokka's hair must be so fluffy. It's got so much volume.
Why can't he go get Toph? I think being stuck in a hole outranks avoiding an awkward encounter.
FOO FOO CUDDLYPOOPS
"You must not let the lightning pass through your heart, or the damage could be deadly." Foreshadowing?
Today in 'things Zuko thinks it's acceptable, nay, expected, for parental figures to do' - attempted murder as a teaching method!
What went on in that palace?
Is this the closest Sokka's come to dying?
He's earthbending the air! Doing air but earthlike. You know what I mean.
I thought she was levitating.
Toph is so smart. She does the airbender thing and comes at the problem from a different angle. Telling Aang to stand up for himself doesn't work? Fine. Let's bully him into standing up for himself. And it works!
This episode's MVP is Sokka's patience.
"You tried the positive reinforcement, didn't you?"
uhhhhh
sure!
Appa getting vengeance for Sokka. Nice.
Theatre kids.
I wish Zuko would just have the breakdown he's obviously hurtling towards so we can get started on the rebuilding arc. Every time I think he's a rock bottom, he keeps digging.
Luten is Katara. Let's not read too far into that one.
Final Thoughts
I defy any episode from this point on to fulfill the Beat Up Sokka Quota as thoroughly as this one did.
In a lesser show, the 'Aang learns earthbending episode' would have had Aang & Toph as the A-plot, and Sokka & Katara doing something completely unrelated as a b-plot, and probably no Zuko at all. Sokka does have his own thing going on this episode, but the fact that they managed to weave in both water tribe siblings so organically is so satisfying. Of course a team member struggling to learn a new skill would seek out his friends. Of course his friends are in the area, observing the lesson to varying degrees. It feels so much more real to have the characters who aren't 'useful' that episode still there, rather than conveniently absent.
Zuko was very Zuko this episode. He's correct that he needs more training for his inevitable next encounter with Zuko jr., but Iroh is also correct that Zuko is a bundle of issues held together by a different bundle of issues. Not to jinx it, but I thought I detected a hint of self-awareness from Zuko this episode, although it seems to have occurred despite his best efforts to suppress it.
Iroh's Zuko-wrangling skills were sharp this episode, despite being injured. And his wisdom was off the charts. Zuko was also not as annoying as I usually find him, and unlike in Zuko Alone where I found his quieter self to be out of character, it fit this episode. Maybe he's turned over a new, quieter, leaf? I loved "she's crazy and she needs to go down" both as a joke and as a statement. Shared blood doesn't trump someone's actions, and I'm glad to see a show meant for kids acknowledge that. Although, given that this show has no problem depicting objectively BAD parents and families, I can't say I'm surprised.
In a testament to Jack de Sena's skill, Sokka get a soliloquy this episode and pulls it off flawlessly. Kudos to the animation team for making Sokka's face fit the words so well. Double kudos for whoever had the balls to approve 'stick Sokka in a hole and put an apex predator on his head to force self-reflection' as a plotline.
There was a lot of exposition from a lot of different characters this episode, but it's mostly unnoticeable. It just makes sense that that's what they would be talking about at that point in time.
I think I said it above, but I'll say it again: the worldbuilding in this show is phenomenally well done. How do I know this? Because I was able to construct most of Iroh's monologue before watching this episode, just by paying attention. This show rewards focus and attentiveness. (Almost) nothing that Iroh said was not something the audience has already observed for themselves. Not heard, but observed. That 'show, don't tell' thing.
This episode was way funnier than it needed to be too. Not just the obvious stuff like *inhales*
FOO FOO CUDDLYPOOPS
but tiny one-liners buried mid-conversation and character interactions too. Momo turning into a reed didn't have to be there, but it was, and it was funny. It wasn't exactly restful, but it was a relief to have an episode that really didn't move around after The Chase.
What I like most about this episode was that it went farther than it had to. This was a training episode. It could have been just training. Anyone familiar with training episodes would expect just training, and be satisfied with just training. But Avatar said 'nope, we'll do better than that' and organically incorporated a heap of character stuff, worldbuilding from multiple perspectives, humour, multiple characters undergoing self-reflection, the next step in the domestication of Zuko, what I'm hoping wasn't a heap of foreshadowing, and pretty backgrounds as the cherry on top. They didn't have to go so hard, but Avatar always goes hard. I like that.
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Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024)
Another version of Bumi & why I like him
Let me preface this with the disclaimer that I'm fully aware that Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender has its flaws. But for me personally, the things it does well are fare more interesting, and so I would like to explain why I like how they changed Bumi as a character within the story of the live action adaptation. I'm bad at keeping it short, so this turned out a rather long post – my apologies. Also: potential trigger warning for mentions of suicidal ideation.
The starting point: Bumi in the cartoon
Cartoon-Bumi in the original series is a character who is very much rooted in the original medium. He lends himself well to comedy, and his challenges for Aang teach Aang and the young audience about opening onself to new possibilities, to think outside the box, to approach obstacles from new perspectives. It's good advice, and Aang takes it to heart and implements it at times later on. The reunion between Aang and Bumi is also sweet, and all in all it's an enjoyable episode.
Aang's position from the live action angle
Now, if the same plot is moved to the live action series (LA), the tone of this storyline is automatically changed as well because we are now looking at it through the lense of the LA. The cartoon is aimed at a young audience and has a big focus on comedy, so we can easily ignore some aspects of the situation that now come more into focus in the adaptation:
Aang just recently has learned that all of his people, the Air Nomads, have been wiped out and he is the last airbender.
Aang also has leaned that as the Avatar it is his duty to restore balance to the world and to defeat the Firelord.
A 100 years old man is challenging a traumatized kid to solve some tasks while his friends are being threatend by death-by-growing-crystal.
As I said – in the cartoon it's fine to think of riding Koi fish as the first order of business, and it's fine to threaten the kids with death because nobody dies anyway. It's fine for the cartoon not to dwell on these things. But the live action series explicilty wants to pay attention to some of these aspects, propbably especially because the cartoon could only address them in very small doses. I'm not saying that the live action always does it well, but the intention is there and it's different to the cartoon.
Aang's trauma and Bumi's response
In the live action, Aang cannot easily put his loss or his responsibilities aside. He is mourning Gyatso and the Airbenders in basically every episode, he is shocked by what he sees of the war in Omashu, and the need to go to the Northern Water Tribe is much more urgent because of Kyoshi's warning.
Would or should Bumi as Aang's friend as he is in the cartoon really pretend he does not know Aang in the LA, and would or should he trick him into believing his friends are in danger of dying? Even if he thinks Aang needs to learn a lesson, is that the right time and the right way to do it? Coming from the perspective of the LA, to me it seems needlessly cruel to threaten Katara and Sokka with death and Aang with the possibility that his friends might die, all while Aang is still dealing with the loss of his people and the fact that he somehow has to save the Northern Water Tribe. I think Bumi would no seem like a nice person or a good friend even if he was copied 1:1 from the cartoon. To me, in this new context it wouldn't make much sense to treat Aang in such a way, just because he thinks that Aang needs to learn a lesson or because it's fun to mess with people.
Fitting Bumi in the new context
Bumi in the cartoon is the episode's obstacle that Aang needs to overcome. If Bumi is to stay an obstacle in the live action, he now needs to have a different reason or motivation to become such an obstacle. A cartoon Bumi who is neither bitter nor angry but rather wants to help and is happy to see Aang can no longer realistically be that obstacle. Rather, I would expect that a wise old man of a 100 years would be more open and supportive right from the start when he meets his young 12 year old friend who just learned that his whole family has been massacred.
So how and why would Bumi still be an obstacle? The writer's answer to that was: because he is no longer wise and friendly, but lethargic and bitter. Why is he bitter? Because he has lived through 100 years of war and had to make horrible choices that still haunt him, and each year the hope for the war and for the suffering to end became smaller and smaller. The Avatar may have been the representation of that hope when the war started – but 100 years later he has become the representation of all the times that Bumi was hopeful but eventually disappointed.
His opposition to Aang in the episode includes three main aspects:
I. Bitterness towards Aang and the Avatar: Bumi blames the Avatar for being absent because the Avatar should have been there to help and wasn't. This isn't a rational reaction though, it's born out of the loss and the bitterness in Bumi's life. It's also personal for him, because Aang was Bumi's friend, and as the Avatar could have helped but didn't. On top of that Bumi resents Aang's disbelief when it comes to Bumi's capacity to care – they are separated by 100 years of lived experience that Aang completely missed and Bumi had to endure. Of course in this case Bumi also ignores the loss that Aang recently (from his perception) has suffered.
→ With this the writers set up a character who is emotionally no longer able to support Aang or take Aang's own situation and problems into consideration. He is mentallypositioned to be an obstacle to Aang, to be inconsiderate, ruthless and actually dangerous.
II. A lesson to learn: Bumi intends to teach Aang a lesson to make him understand why he is the way he is now. He cannot speedrun the last 100 years for Aang, but can give him and example of what his own experience has been in the past and what forced him to stop caring: he shows him what it's been like in the past when you are forced to make impossible choices, and what – in Bumi's mind – awaits Aang in the future.
→ This provides a motivation for Bumi to fight against Aang in all seriousness. Bumi is not playing games, because this has been the harsh reality for him. It rises the dramaturgical stakes of the fight.
III. Losing the will to live: Bumi is tired after 100 years, and that becomes very apparent in the fight. It is a part of a larger theme in the LA that explores what war does to people. In Bumi's case it has made him numb because he wouldn't have been able to deal with the horrors of war otherwise all this time. That is why he does not move a hand when he is about to be crushed – it seems to be a relief, and if it can teach Aang the intended lesson: all the better.
→ With Aang already knowing who Bumi is, this rises the emotional stake of the fight. Aang no longer is fighting an unknown weird old man, he is fighting someone who he believes to be a friend, and even worse: his friend appears to be suicidal. Having to fight and protect Bumi at the same time puts Aang under a huge amount of pressure both emotionally and when it comes to his bending skills.
The resolution: fighting hopelessness with connection
Granted, the ending is not as well executed as it could be. But for me it still carries the intended idea – or at least the idea as I understood it:
War can isolate people. Bumi has been fighting a war, and surely has lost people close to him, or cannot see them because battle grounds have a habit of interrupting travel. We also know there have been spies in the city as well as rebells who are unhappy with Bumi's rule, so it's difficult to even trust the people who are supposed to fight on Bumi's side.
Aang is the counter to all of that: he was able travel to the city because he can fly and cross borders and distances more easily. He is also saved from the predicament that Bumi has put him in because his friends have independently found a way to reach them, and luckily in time.
When he pulls out the gift that Bumi had given him all these years ago, it's very symbolic: the sky bison whistle allows Aang to call upon his friend Appa. And Appa has already saved Aang in the first episode, and will do so again in the episode following Aang's and Bumi's fight.
It's a reminder that for people who have lost the will to live the best hope is the connection with other people. It may seem trivial to those who don't have to struggle in that way, but a reminder of a connection, of friendship, of support or even just shared struggle can be incredible powerful. That's why I believe it is believable for Bumi to give it one more try. After all, the return of the Avatar as a potential powerful ally is also a good motivation to fight back once more.
#natla#Netflix Avatar#netflix atla#Bumi#Avatar The Last Airbender#natla review#natla meta#avatar: the last airbender#trigger warning: mentions of suicidal ideation
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WiP Friday: Scene from To Weave a Tangled Web
So, the premise of this story is essentially that Zukaang are together post-canon and they're working with Kuei to try to repair the world and Aang has the brilliant idea of uniting the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom by having Zuko and Kuei get married. Problem is, he's currently dating Zuko and failed to actually talk to him about what that could mean. So now we get Aang talking to the Gaang after getting kicked out by Zuko, who is rather understandably upset.
Aang was panicking. He knew he was panicking, but he didn’t know how to stop.
“What happened?” Katara asked immediately, coming to his side the moment he stepped into their room.
Aang sniffled, not quite able to manage speech.
Toph frowned, forehead creasing. “You weren’t able to talk?”
He shook his head, trying to hold back tears. He didn’t know how to fix this. He didn’t know how to get Zuko back.
But he had to! He didn’t want to lose Zuko!
But he had and he needed to figure out how to repair things, or – or – what would he do if Zuko never forgave him? What would he do without Zuko at his side?
Nose running, he sniffed hard and managed to say, “he kicked me out.”
“What? Why?” Suki asked, face scrunching in confusion. “What happened?”
Aang’s eyes welled up with tears again and he rubbed his face, unable to answer.
Toph sighed heavily, but though she sounded put upon, her expression was concerned. “Zuko’s upset because Aang told him to marry Kuei without explaining what that meant for them.”
“Oh.” Sokka blinked. “Wait, you didn’t talk to him about it!?”
“I didn’t think to!” Aang defended. “I forgot monogamy was a thing!” His friends stared at him and he ducked his head, face red. Hugging himself he added, “I know I messed up. But how do I fix it!? He won’t talk to me!”
“Well, what did he say?” Katara asked softly, putting a hand on his shoulder.
“He thinks – he thinks I want him to be a ‘side piece’,” he quoted. “What does that even mean!?” It certainly didn’t sound like a good thing.
“Seriously?” Sokka asked, sounding surprised.
“It’s – you know,” Suki tried to answer, “um, it’s like when someone – has someone on the side.”
“The side of what?”
“Of their main squeeze,” Toph filled in.
Aang frowned. “What do you mean ‘main’? Relationships don’t fall into a hierarchy.”
“...maybe not for Air Nomads,” Toph acknowledged, “but for the other nations? Yeah, they totally do.”
“Really?” Aang blinked. “But – but what does that mean?”
Toph’s mouth twisted as she searched for words. “In the Earth Kingdom, it’s pretty common for powerful men to have wives – their ‘main squeeze’ – and also to have a mistress on the side. I’d imagine something similar happens in the Fire Nation, though they hide it better. But we’re both – both nations have hereditary inheritance.”
“What?” Aang was not alone in asking.
“Like – like when my parents die, as their child, I would inherit everything. Likewise, Zuko’s family is royal, and so because he is part of that bloodline, he was able to inherit the throne. So for us, it matters who your ‘main’ person is, because that’s who gets inheritance rights. But you guys aren’t like that.”
Aang shook his head, as did Katara and Sokka.
“I mean, it’s not that we don’t have inheritance,” Katara clarified. “But we define things by family, not by blood.”
“How’s that different?” Suki asked.
“You can have family that’s not related to you by blood,” Sokka pointed out. “Like all of us.”
“Hmm,” Suki nodded in consideration. “Kyoshi Island is more like the Earth Kingdom, but um. Kind of reversed? It’s – it’s more common for women to have others on the side, because there’s more of us.”
“Huh,” Sokka said. “How did none of us ever talk about this sooner?”
“Because you’re all idiots,” Toph said.
“Hey, you never brought it up either!”
“I’m exempt from idiot status,” Toph sniffed haughtily and Aang couldn’t help but giggle, though it petered out quickly.
“What do I do?” he asked. “How – how do I make him see?”
“Well,” Katara chewed on her lip. “Maybe start by trying to express what you want and how it’s different from what he thinks.”
“I just want to be with him,” Aang said, rubbing his eyes. “I – I thought marrying Kuei was a good idea, but not if it means losing him!”
“It doesn’t have to be all or nothing,” Sokka said. “I mean, multiple people can be together at the same time.”
“I know!” Aang huffed in frustration. “Air Nomads – we don’t believe in possessions. We don’t have inheritance. We’re – we’re all about freedom. About – about what you choose. That’s what family is – the people you choose to have in your life.”
“Huh,” Toph clicked her tongue. “You guys are more family than my parents ever were.”
“Exactly!” Aang said. “What does blood matter? Your values and what you choose are more important. That’s what ties people together.”
“So what does that mean for romance?” Katara asked. “In – in the Southern Water Tribes… it’s not uncommon for someone to have more than one partner. But they’re all equals. Like – like Mom and Dad and Bato. They were always together but no one comes ‘first’, you know?”
Toph’s brow furrowed. “But if you call one ‘Dad’ and one ‘Bato’... doesn’t that kind of imply that Dad comes first?”
“Why?” Katara asked, surprised.
“Well, like… who would you inherit from? Your Dad or Bato?”
Katara shared a look with her brother. “Both of them? We’re a family. A unit. Everything we own is shared.”
“Okay, but a family has a lot of different relationships in it. But like… there’s still one that comes first romantically, right?”
“...no?”
“Why is there a hierarchy?” Aang asked. “All relationships serve a purpose in your life. All love is different, but none of it is lesser.”
“I mean… you put some people first, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but that comes back to family. You guys are my family, of course I put you first. But it’s not like Zuko’s well-being is more important than any of yours. You’re all my family.”
“Hmm,” Toph hummed. “So in your mind, what does a relationship between you and Zuko and Zuko and Kuei look like?”
“Like… normal?” Aang shrugged, slightly helpless. “It’s like – it’s like having friends! No one would say that because Katara is my friend, then obviously Sokka can’t be! So why would you do that with romance!? Everyone loves multiple people! It would be super unhealthy otherwise!”
“...what?”
Aang bit his lip, trying to figure out how to explain. “Sokka, you love Suki, yeah? But you also love Katara and me and Toph and everyone. So why is that different?”
“Yeah, but I’m only romantic with Suki,” Sokka pointed out. “Also, Katara’s my sister.”
“Every relationship is different,” Aang agreed. “Not just the difference between romantic and platonic, but like – like, all our friendships are different! You have a different dynamic with Zuko than I have, just like me and Katara have a different relationship than you and Katara.”
Sokka’s mouth twisted as he thought on that. “I mean… it’s still kinda different? Like – like romance is… you know… romance!”
“But who decides if something is romantic or platonic?” Aang asked. “Why is it that when I hold hands with you, it’s platonic, but when I hold hands with Zuko, it’s romantic?”
“Uh…”
“It’s ‘cause we decide! Every relationship has a different dynamic and only the people involved can define it. There’s no behavior that’s inherently romantic or inherently platonic.”
“What about kissing?” Toph asked.
“Didn’t your parents ever kiss you?”
“Oh. Huh. Yeah, I guess.”
“But what about sex?” Sokka asked. “I mean…”
“People have sex without being romantically involved,” Aang pointed out. “And sexual attraction and romantic attraction don’t always align. Like, who you want to have sex with is not necessarily who you want to build a family with, right?”
“Hmm,” Suki hummed. “Yeah, I guess that makes sense. But so what does that mean?”
“Well, I guess it raises the question,” Katara said, “what do you want your relationship with Zuko to be? What does he want? It sounds like you two need to talk about that.”
“Yeah, but he won’t talk to me!” Aang said, biting his lip in distress.
“Breathe, Twinkletoes,” Toph said, poking him. “We’ll help you talk to Zuko. But you gotta figure out what you wanna say, because you’re gonna need to be as clear as possible.”
“I just – I just wanna be with him,” Aang whispered. “I thought the marriage was a good idea, but not if it means losing him!”
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