Post by dynamojacks on Nov 11, 2012 9:18:55 GMT -6
Oh boy, do I need to catch up!
When did you start liking Zutara?
After the series ended. Funnily enough, I knew about the pairing from day one and was interested in seeing how things developed and really got into the scenes that explored them both (that 'I'll save you from the pirates' thing had me wide-eyed for a bit..!). Honestly, I think there were many little moments where I was inwardly hoping for something to happen, and getting despondent when things went awry (season 2 finale I was really CURSING ZUKO! Still loved the bugger though). But it was only after the finale -when I realised I wasn't 100% satisfied- that I truly started shipping them.
What sets Zutara apart from other pairings in Avatar: The Last Airbender?
Well, they don't have to rely on preset 'romance cues' in the script in order to validate a connection. That's a biggy for me. I really don't like it when romance in fiction is something that is crowbarred in, and that's how I felt with Maiko (and to a similar extent Kataang- guh I'm not sure which one I disagree MORE as a romance with now lol). And because there wasn't a significant story development that really based on Maiko/Kataang romantic interactions (rather 'being at the same place in the same time'), it felt flat and gross- especially in the case of Kataang where a story development was even HINDERED by their 'romance' (seventh chakra much?). And Zuko and Katara both excel on their own WITHOUT the need for romance 'cues'.
E.g: The script forces you to accept that Mai's rescue of Zuko at the Boiling Rock was due to 'their love' when there was another dimension to it -freeing herself from under Azula's thumb. Whereas Zuko's save of Katara from lightning did no such thing, yet established that instinctual-self-sacrifical connection ten times more (Mai was calculating and had it in control, Zuko barely had a fraction of a second to react). It didn't have to force itself- it just existed as it was, and validated itself on its own.
E.g The script forces you to accept that Katara and Aang would be like 'Oma and Shu', even though the second layer of THAT one is the fact that they were trapped together in a cave and had no other choice but to 'kiss to escape'. While Zuko and Katara were trapped in a cave together, neither were forced to profess love/kiss the other. Their connection was something that unravelled through mutual understanding, which wasn't a 'requirement to get out'. It was just a means of getting to know one another- you know, as relationships are SUPPOSED to go! It wasn't like 'fate' or any of that balls (uggh...)
There's also the matter of the characters feelings in general, especially in the Maiko relationship. If there was such a powerful drive for Mai to find Zuko because 'she loved him' rather than 'it would be interesting to see them again' (as Azula put it), you know.. I think I'd get behind it more. MAYBE. But they just leave too many things UNEXPLORED and expect you to accept THAT over the blatant overpowering of raw character dynamic from Zuko and Katara. To the point where it's kind of ridiculous. Most people watching weren't paying attention to Mai's pursuit of Zuko, because they made that take such a back seat that her showing up as his girlfriend on return to the Fire Nation just came out of NOWHERE. ARGH SCRIPT ISSUES SCRIPT ISSUES.
Lastly, and most important, that even if Zuko had 'ulterior motives' towards pleasing Katara (I'd seriously dispute this because he had no actual NEED to get her respect in TSR as far as his 'quest' goes.. she could have continued hating him and he would still be part of the effort and doing good), all that is negligible because it actually drove his motivation to do more than just 'the right things'. It drove him to show a side of himself that Katara had yet to see. This is not something that he actually HAD to do, but he did it anyway, because he cared to make a lasting impression on her and her alone.
Which is your favorite aspect of Zuko & Katara's relationship?
This is really hard. I can't pick just one, but the fact that they both connect on an equal ground really helps. The way they play off each other and work together instinctually is really exciting, and shows how they connect deep under the surface as well as in terms of skill and intuition. So it has to be that.
Is Zutara your OTP?
Totally. Partly because of how hard I've 'fought for it' in the fandom (not in terms of ship war but holding my own against the kind of stuff that gets slung at Zutara, and Zutarians for that matter), and just how much I fell for it in general. I was surprised at how much I'd become invested with it. It's had much more of a profound effect on me than any other pairing in the history of ever. I had an OTP before, but my artwork output has rapidly exceeded it already. So Zutara wins!
As for the crossovers thing, I haven't got much of an answer at the moment. D8
When did you start liking Zutara?
After the series ended. Funnily enough, I knew about the pairing from day one and was interested in seeing how things developed and really got into the scenes that explored them both (that 'I'll save you from the pirates' thing had me wide-eyed for a bit..!). Honestly, I think there were many little moments where I was inwardly hoping for something to happen, and getting despondent when things went awry (season 2 finale I was really CURSING ZUKO! Still loved the bugger though). But it was only after the finale -when I realised I wasn't 100% satisfied- that I truly started shipping them.
What sets Zutara apart from other pairings in Avatar: The Last Airbender?
Well, they don't have to rely on preset 'romance cues' in the script in order to validate a connection. That's a biggy for me. I really don't like it when romance in fiction is something that is crowbarred in, and that's how I felt with Maiko (and to a similar extent Kataang- guh I'm not sure which one I disagree MORE as a romance with now lol). And because there wasn't a significant story development that really based on Maiko/Kataang romantic interactions (rather 'being at the same place in the same time'), it felt flat and gross- especially in the case of Kataang where a story development was even HINDERED by their 'romance' (seventh chakra much?). And Zuko and Katara both excel on their own WITHOUT the need for romance 'cues'.
E.g: The script forces you to accept that Mai's rescue of Zuko at the Boiling Rock was due to 'their love' when there was another dimension to it -freeing herself from under Azula's thumb. Whereas Zuko's save of Katara from lightning did no such thing, yet established that instinctual-self-sacrifical connection ten times more (Mai was calculating and had it in control, Zuko barely had a fraction of a second to react). It didn't have to force itself- it just existed as it was, and validated itself on its own.
E.g The script forces you to accept that Katara and Aang would be like 'Oma and Shu', even though the second layer of THAT one is the fact that they were trapped together in a cave and had no other choice but to 'kiss to escape'. While Zuko and Katara were trapped in a cave together, neither were forced to profess love/kiss the other. Their connection was something that unravelled through mutual understanding, which wasn't a 'requirement to get out'. It was just a means of getting to know one another- you know, as relationships are SUPPOSED to go! It wasn't like 'fate' or any of that balls (uggh...)
There's also the matter of the characters feelings in general, especially in the Maiko relationship. If there was such a powerful drive for Mai to find Zuko because 'she loved him' rather than 'it would be interesting to see them again' (as Azula put it), you know.. I think I'd get behind it more. MAYBE. But they just leave too many things UNEXPLORED and expect you to accept THAT over the blatant overpowering of raw character dynamic from Zuko and Katara. To the point where it's kind of ridiculous. Most people watching weren't paying attention to Mai's pursuit of Zuko, because they made that take such a back seat that her showing up as his girlfriend on return to the Fire Nation just came out of NOWHERE. ARGH SCRIPT ISSUES SCRIPT ISSUES.
Lastly, and most important, that even if Zuko had 'ulterior motives' towards pleasing Katara (I'd seriously dispute this because he had no actual NEED to get her respect in TSR as far as his 'quest' goes.. she could have continued hating him and he would still be part of the effort and doing good), all that is negligible because it actually drove his motivation to do more than just 'the right things'. It drove him to show a side of himself that Katara had yet to see. This is not something that he actually HAD to do, but he did it anyway, because he cared to make a lasting impression on her and her alone.
Which is your favorite aspect of Zuko & Katara's relationship?
This is really hard. I can't pick just one, but the fact that they both connect on an equal ground really helps. The way they play off each other and work together instinctually is really exciting, and shows how they connect deep under the surface as well as in terms of skill and intuition. So it has to be that.
Is Zutara your OTP?
Totally. Partly because of how hard I've 'fought for it' in the fandom (not in terms of ship war but holding my own against the kind of stuff that gets slung at Zutara, and Zutarians for that matter), and just how much I fell for it in general. I was surprised at how much I'd become invested with it. It's had much more of a profound effect on me than any other pairing in the history of ever. I had an OTP before, but my artwork output has rapidly exceeded it already. So Zutara wins!
As for the crossovers thing, I haven't got much of an answer at the moment. D8