kikiscastleinthesky

[kikiscastleinthesky]

Smoke & Shadow review

This particular comic  features one of the biggest holes in the sequel to the series. Starting with the fact that the secret Ozai society only wants to remove Zuko from the throne because they think he is traitorous and incompetent; in few words, they want to put Ozai back, and this society is neither well organized nor has its clear objectives, since Ukano from the start of the comic he is been manipulated by Azula. It is seen that he does it for fear of the Kemurikage and not on his own account,  he's a character who doesn't know which side he's on. 

There is not a single dialogue other than removing Zuko and putting Ozai back. That's it?  There is no strategy, nothing is neither politically or economic explained. What benefit would the society have with Ozai? Having their old jobs? Their old pay? Get out from jail? Be named nobility? Go back to the 100 year war? We have already seen what Ozai's reign is like. Apart from going back to the same thing, what else? I'm sure the first thing Ozai would do upon returning to the throne would be to kill Zuko and the avatar. Oh, and Ursa and her family too. And what would happen to his allies? nobody, never thinks about what the new Ozai regime would be like.

Clearly this is all an assumption because there is not even initial communication with Ozai. The great plan is to make riots and kidnap the children. So the people will go against the government and the leader will withdraw. In every country in the world, since the beginning of history there have always been riots and kidnappings and the leader does not withdraw. Ah, but a very different thing is to have a political, economic and military strategy to carry out a coup d'état. 

Now we move to the development of the comic. I’m a little confused, in smoke and shadow p3; Zuko redirects Azula’s lighting, but then immediately gets hit by a freaking lighting at his chest and abdomen. (When I first read it I swear I began to tear my hair because Zuko was doomed) [+pic on that] But…ummm, he just gets knocked to a wall? Uh, writing team, are you sure how lighting works? Then Azula and her team escapes… uh, are we sure we are talking about the same characters? They escaped the freaking avatar, the freaking Fire Lord and the freaking Kyoshi warrior leaders?[+pic on that] Is it the same show were two non-benders and a metal bender took down the entire fire nation air fleet in Sozin’s comet?

And Azula ... oh I didn’t want to talk about this, but Azula as a villain was a total failure, from the beginning, as we had seen in the comic "The search" she doesn’t have any essential development, she’s only there to be the schizophrenic aggressive teenager that you have to take care of. Azula went from being the mastermind that was able to emotionally manipulate her brother and friends to do whatever she wanted, the one that started the drill project to penetrate Ba Sing Se's outer wall, the one that defeated the Kioshi warriors, the one who in disguise gave a damn coup d'état in Ba Sing Se and defeated… to the madwoman who kidnapped children so she could to rule through Zuko's mind. More than being a respectable villain with potential, he became a nuisance and a headache for everyone, before, when I saw Azula, it was like "OMG", now what is she gonna do? Now she is like “ here we come again- while I rub my temples”.

There is a part in the comic where Azula tells Zuko that in 24 hours he has been ruthless like her, that within him, he will always be one of her own and that sooner or later he will be like her and that is why, in a certain sense, she will be Fire Lord. Well in the last hours the only thing we have seen is how Zuko continues to eat from the palm of Mai's hand, and how he throws tantrums with his friend Aang because he doesn't want to do what he says. The only thing he does is fire an officer who disobeyed.

Ok I got lost, first Azula tells that she has accepted she will never become Fire Lord, but after Zuko becomes a psychopath like her, she’ll rule through him. So yes or no? And then she disappears (again). So the children were only stolen because of a complete illogical idea by Azula? all this for something that has no foundation? First, they didn’t turn the country against Zuko, but rather a few citizens of capital city, they didn’t release Ozai, they didn’t communicate with him, nor did they assassinate anyone from his council or his men, and in the end the children will return to their parents and the idea that thanks to the Fire Lord and the avatar, things were solved.

Instead of a plan against him, it seems a plan in favor of him, so that citizens believe that only thanks to them, they are safe. Hell, if my son was kidnapped and the Fire Lord and the Avatar returned him to me I would be their faithful servant until I die.

The worst of the case is that they left a huge hole where Azula could have developed as a character. The last time we saw her was when she told Zuko that he was useless, and she disappeared into the forest (The search). And we see her again when she appears to Ukano for the first time and demands that he start doing something because otherwise the kidnappings will start. Ok here we had a great loss. Azula left without clothes, without food without ANYTHING in the forest, how did she get to the capital city? Magically a map was found? I may not get out from my house frequently, but I'm sure that when you get lost for weeks, you look more like a tramp than yourself. How did she survive? Hunting forest animals with fire bending? How did she found clothes? How did she got to the mental hospital? I didn’t know she had friends in the institution. How did she convince them to join her? Where did they get the sedative from? From the hospital? How did they escape? Why did Zuko never found out that there was a massive flight of patients from the mental hospital? How Azula found out that Ukano was the leader of the society? If it is called a secret society for something? What is Azula’s objective/ benefit for manipulating Ukano? Ukano wants to reinstate Ozai on the throne, while Azula tells him that Ozai has never been part of the plan, but then she already knows that he will never be Fire Lord. ¿?

If I want to understand, if neither she nor Ozai are going to be Fire Lord and if they are not going to give a decent coup d’état, what is the real objective of this? That time when Azula was alone was a great opportunity to either:

a)    Show her as a vicious, ruthless and cruel villain. Show that she had gotten worse and now she evolved to carry out by herself a coup d’état, to see her ruthlessly murder someone. A villain that really scares you, with true psychotic and macabre plans, not the one that makes you roll your eyes every time she makes an appearance.

b)    Give her, her much-deserved redemption arc.

But she doesn't do any of this. All she does is hit people ,be rude,  throw lightning bolts, and manipulate Ukano.

Does she murder someone? No. Does she or the secret society have a political, economic or military strategy? No. Does she make more allies apart from her crazy friends? No. Does she have a real interaction with her allies? No. Does she or the secret society enter the government? No. And out of nowhere she says that she already understood that her destiny had never been to be Fire Lord and miraculously she stops having visions of her mother, that she feels free, more powerful and without that burden.  Hey, all the more reason was it for you to become a better villain or to start your redemption process. Not for you to make this ridiculous plan so that you can rule through Zuko's mind.

All this is a pity, and our wonderful Azula falls into a filler villain who only acts as such to give the supposed meaning of the comic. And since her goal was only to have someone bad to get more comics, Azula disappears again into the haze to never make a mention in LOK again. So I'll assume she went into the same thing as Suki’s and Kei Lo, once they didn't need her she was thrown out.

And I am not mentioning how Zuko and Aang's relationship has severe misunderstandings, they don’t seem best friends and I’ll not mention how Zuko is clinging to a woman who clearly disrespects him and is no longer interested in him, but… Maiko is another analysis.

Sooner or later Ukano breaks down and is going to free the children. But Kiyi discovers that she is a fire bender, and she makes a hole in the wall releasing everyone. (One of the saviours is a 6yo). Oh, I almost forget that all of this happens in a couple of days because in North and South part 2, Kanna says it has just been a couple of days and Aang goes back to the tribe (Don’t worry it was just Azula).

Stars given 2

[kikiscastleinthesky]

Frozen 2 & Zutara : The theory

,Well, after watching Disney movie Frozen 2, I realized many things that could fit like cinderella’s slipper to our lovely ship. First of all, we know that Athohallan was a place where people could bend the elements, thanks of the spirits, and Elsa might as qeell serve as the avatar. But that is another analysis, for now, we’ll stick for zutara. 

We got two towns: Arendelle and Athohallan, separated by a mist, no one was able to get in or out. Like: the fire nation and the SWT. Separated by a war. 

As we go deeper in Frozen’s 2 story, we see that Anna and Elsa’s grandfather betrayed Nortuldra’s chief. Both towns became enemies, and we got a point because all people from Nortuldra still have some rancour against them, even after being locked up for 34 years you can difference who is from each town, no mixing at all.  We also see a thing that isn’t supposed to be there, for Nortuldra is the water dam that represented the King’s treason and for that reason their chief was murdered. For the SWT would be the war ship, wich represented the raids and how little by litte, water benders where exterminated. 

At first, the people of Nortuldra don’t trust the foreigners, just like we would see how an initial mistrust between the two avatar countries would be like. But then, Elsa discovers the truth, “truth is what will give us freedom” And Anna, knew that the water dam had to be destroyed in order to keep peace and save both worlds. 

Much like what happened when Katara confronted Yhon Rha, she gave herself freedom when she met him again. And like Anna and Elsa, Zuko went against his people recognizing that he needed to confront and face them (principally his family) to have balance and peace. When Anna was disposed to sacrifice herself for the water dam, was much what Zuko did, sacrificing his life for a girl who was the “enemy”. 

Also, this things are what make the two worlds accept each other completely. Elsa as the protector of the forest and 5th element and Anna as the new queen . The war getting ended and Zuko being Fire Lord. (Who tecnically in normal circumstances would never have reached the throne). Everything below was a choice, the character themselves faced this stuff alone. 

This whole analysis comes because everyone says: No, Katara and Zuko’s familiy would never accept them being a couple. Is that so? 

Imagine, how Hakoda couldn’t accept Zuko? Being he, who helped Katara get a closure for her mother? Being he, the boy who sacrificed his life to save his daughter? How could Iroh couldn’t accept Katara? When she was the one who helped his nephew face him after the big betrayal? Also she saved Zuko’s life too... I’m 100% sure he needed more than one healing session. 

Next... Nope... The Fire Nation and SWT would never approve of that. Well... at first, yes with mistrust and rancour, but then , as they saw the real interaction, the doubt would start to disappear. Wow... commerce and peace treaties? Development in public health?

This gets us to the final point. Elsa being part of Nortuldra and people accepting her as she es because she has proven herself, and it was the sisters’ love who  brought together Nortuldra and Arendelle once more. 

This is the exact thing that sets and argument against zutara: How Katara could be the Queen of the country that almost aniquilates her tribe and killed her mother? It would be a betrayal (Almost like: how the villagers from Nortuldra could accept Elsa as her protector and part of them since is was Elsa’s grandfather who murdered their chief and  enraged the spirits?) This is the answer: because two personas can unify them, two persons can demostrate that being from a different country that initially hasn’t good terms can reach peace.

The union between the SWT and the Fire Nation represents the power of maturity, or overcoming adversities and forgiveness. And like Anna said “Our lands and people, now connected by love. 

[kikiscastleinthesky]

THE SOKKASM ZUTARA

I’ve seen a lot of tumblr blogs that ship zutara and I decided that is time for me to open mine too. So, yes, I’m a zutara shipper. And for the time being, my posts are going to be dedicated principally to analyze the ships in ATLA. 

Disclaimer alert:  I’m not forcing anyone to ship zutara. And I won’t accept hate because I (and many others) may have a different opinion, If you are one of those persons I invite you to leave, don’t waste my time and yours, because I’m not even going to reply. Everyone has the right to ship whatever they like and want, without been mocked, harrassed and humiliated. 

Well... now that everything is settled: 3...2...1 go!

I’m starting with this small analysis, because every zutara shipper has been attacked on why zutara and zutara is horrible yada yada but, this ocassion I’m gonna use all the attacks we get and defend it. 

I. Zutara is way the worst toxic relationship:

You call Zuko the abuser, the toxic and the bad tempered? Then you     didn’t get a clue of his redemption arc.

You call zutara toxic for:

a)     giving your mother’s closure and final acceptance into the group?

b)     saving each other’s life?

c)     being the “leading co-parenting” of the group?

d)     support you when you’re about to beg for his uncle forgiveness?

II. The cave scene didn’t mean anything, and just think about it, they would never ever get along well:•      

  Of course, I misunderstood Zuko confessing his own grief, probably he just hates her.

When Katara opens to her mother sorrow like she never did with anyone was like no big deal.

 That part when she offers to heal his scar with SACRED water was totally illogical.

And being the first person who he let touch his scar really said to me that they were absolutely toxic.

 Yes, he betrayed her initial trust. And it hurt, but guess who betrayed worst? The man who for three years was his father. But nope, Iroh, should never forgive Zuko, for what he did. (Right? Katara was betrayed and she should bever have interest in him, so Iroh would never forgive his abuser, right?)

III. Zutara is about getting in love with your abuser:

The abuser love? When did Zuko abused Katara? When did he forced to do something she didn’t want? Did he ever physically abused her or sexually assaulted her? Even if he tied her to a tree, he never humiliated her, he never hurt her or overpass against her. Or are you trying to make up his whole plot to eliminate all his attacks towards team avatar only rest in the female character? (Have you forgot how he betrayed his uncle? Or even himself?)

IV. Zutara is an age gap, it would be underage thing. “You don’t like Aang because he is a child and still pair Zuko, being a minor.” You want to hypersexualize two kids (Aang and Katara) into having sexual interest.

Katara would have been dating an underage guy too. She would have been 18 and Aang 16. I know! Age gap only matter when the man’s older. Both Katara and Zuko had gone through puberty, and both were in adolescence, both shared the same maturity level. Yes dude, there a huge difference in being a CHILD and being a TEENAGER, yes, still minor, But with puberty hit already.

Actually, I still believe even being 11-12 you can get like a… spark… a hint. Even if its not a relationship whatsoever, and not having sexual interest of any kind. If you really want to see what closest we get to a “real” attraction and potential between kiddos that age, you get S1Mike and Eleven (stranger things) / you get Chihiro and Haku (Spirited away) / you get Pazu and Sheeta. (The castle in the sky) –Wooo, that really changes things right?

But yet there are people that believe shipping zutara is “pedophile” I thought in seriously not replying to this stupidities but, here I am, dismantling their theories.

So, this is real life. An adult person trying to sleep with a prepubescent kid. So… there is no support on this. Because a ship is about two fictional characters in a fictional story.

What about fictional pedophilia? Well, we can change that: Fictional pedophilia is a psychosexual disorder when you ship an adult fictional character (+18) to have a sexual interest in a fictional prepubescent child (-12) and / or attempt to engage both characters in sexual acts.

So step one… are either Zuko or Katara either an adult or prepubescent child? As you can see in the image at the right, both have gone through puberty. Step two, are you trying to a couple of minors to get sexually involved? No, this is a love story, not porn. And before you yell at me for the porn zutara comics/fics on the web, I guess you should see the porn Kataang /fics comics on the web too.

But I don’t hate any ship. So, technically, neither Kataang, nor Sukka, nor Yukka, nor Jetara, nor Maiko is pedophilia.

Ok, yeah yeah its not pedo, but is statutory rape, so yet it’s illegal.

Oh yes, if we state that 18 is the age where you are considered an adult (at least in my country) both are minors, your term is partially correct. But guess what would be statutory rape too?

Sukka (15) and Maiko (16-17), both implied to have sex relationships and canon during the series.

The episode "The Southern Raiders" became (in)famous among the fandom for what is a truly epic instance of this trope. Zuko bumps into a very flustered Suki on the way to Sokka's tent, and she hurriedly excuses herself. He walks into Sokka's tent to ask him a question and finds him pants-less and surrounded by flowers and candles. He even greets Zuko with a suggestive "Well helloooo..." before he realizes who itis. After a short talk, he rushes Zuko out and sticks his head out to call for Suki. And if there was any doubt, Sokka is shown the next morning fiddling with a flower necklace for no apparent reason... except to indicate that maybe Suki had been “deflowered”.

And yet, if Kataang had sex, it would be statutory sex at some point too: 16 and 18 -Conclusions: Statutory sex takes all ships equally.

V. Poor Aang he would be devastated.

Kid, he’s 12, in the comics he’s 13-14. Or what? Haven’t you guys had a broken heart ever? Your high school sweetie? Or Aang’s so frail to not be able to find love? To close himself for a better opportunity? Seeking your own happiness in not selfish. What is selfish is seeking your own happiness at the other expenses.

And even that, we all know what would Aang do if Katara starts a relationship with Zuko. (Even if it wasn’t Zuko, I highly doubt he would like Katara dating someone else) He would go on avatar rampage. That is NOT healthy, that is NOT romantic. That is extremely possessive and selfish to do. It’s psychotic. Because Aang cares more about himself than Katara’s feelings, even if she would be happier without him.

VI. Zutara is all about sex interest.

Well once more you mistake chemistry with sexual needs. Wanting me to sleep with my husband means I only use him for sex relief? If I find myself sexually attracted to anyone probably means I just want to sleep with that person and nothing else.

VII. A hug is all zutarians have to acknowledge zutara:

We have a complete extended analysis in all the small details, but we like to use that forgiveness hug because in that hug you have more potential that all the kataang scenes all together. We have thousands of complete analyses, pages dedicated exclusively zutara. 

VIII. Katara “fell in love with Aang” and it’s not one sided.

Uh... Nope, just because two persons are good friends it doesn’t mean they are a good couple. Yes, the way the both of them interact is absolutely beautiful, But not romantically.

Do we see Katara’s view on romantically being drawn towards Aang? Yes, we see it, and yes, unfortunately, is one sided.

How Kataangers complete this:

·       The fortune-teller: I didn’t see like “Wow omg the avatar is going to be my future husband!” But… was like “uh… really?… well, I guess it’s him” Zutarians and Aunt Wu are the base for many backs up theories. ;) Aang is not the only powerful bender you know? And actually, that episode is way trying too hard to demonstrate the crush Meng has for Aang and Aang has to Katara. How is even healthy to accept that sometimes persons don’t like you back and it’s not the end of the world.

·       The cave scene: I forgot that Katara is telling him to be her boyfriend and they will live happily ever after. And really, it all gets us to a real Oma and Shu theory. Not to mention that they were “forced” to kiss because their kids innocence believed if they kissed, they wouldn’t die, and that Aang messed up things as well. But if you see it beneath, if she was truly interested, she would have told Aang: “wow omg we kissed, ok. let’s give him a clue…” nothing, she goes back in treating him same as always.

·       The headband dance: Well that’s a fair point yes. Actually, I felt something different…unfortunately Katara later had to tell him not to kiss her.

IX. Zutara is because you projected on Katara and had a crush on Zuko, because Katara and Zuko were your favourite characters and because is the bad boy style romance.

My crush was Jet <3, and zutara was the most logical endgame for girls. Ask any girl, ANY 14 yo who would like to date: A high school, nice and handsome guy or a 7th grader that had potential to be her best friend. (See the logic) 

And nope is not like “Insert fav characters of the opposite sex to ship them” You need to see real development.

I don’t know why they stereotype Zuko as the “bad boy” – relationship archetype. Zuko is never seen to be the classic fuck boy who treats girls like shit and suddenly there comes a lady to change him. Maybe he is a “bad boy” (confused though) in S1 and S2, but his redemption arc is literally the answer of why he is not “bad boy” anymore.

If Katara was truly and really romantically interested then she wouldn’t have friendzoned Aang. Once? Nope 4 times. And also… are we forgetting kind of imagery…

Friendzoned  

 When Aang fixes her a small necklace with the fishing  thread.

 When he kissed her at the invasion. She didn’t  reciprocate it. (I’m not even mentioning the mommy proud speech)

 When he wanted to talk about the kiss in the western  air temple (Comic love is a battlefield)

 When he kissed her at the play and she had to told  him to back off.

 Strange imagery

 She was June Pippinpaddleopsokopolis (Aang’s  granddaughter)

When Aang got shot, she held his body in her arms in  the exact way Mary held Jesus in Pieta’s sculpture.

 She was Sapphire Fire. (Aang’s pregnant mother)

After they got married, in the book legacy, she said  she enjoyed most seeing Aang becoming a man. (Honestly ladies if I got a BF  the least I want is seeing how the kid transforms into a man)

I’m looking forward to watch you grow into manhood  as I did to your father (Katara’s letter to Tenzin)

 I’m really  trying to deny Oedipus complex here.

Still hard for me to track Katara’s love interest for little Aang since all we see is more a relationship mom/sister or Harry/Hermione. I have heard rumours that Bryke wanted to give the ship “mystery” and “expectation” but I think they really messed up, I didn’t see expectation or mystery, I saw a child insisting to a girl that didn’t reciprocate. It wasn’t even like she didn’t have much of a chance, because her love interests:

Was killed by Long Feng

Gave him a hideous mustache and disappeared him after Azula’s attack in the western air temple.

Forced to be attached to a toxic relationship.

Apart that all those points I’ve mentioned, Kataang is not a relationship for me. Staying in a formal relationship with the first person they met of the opposite sex at 14 -12 (guys not even Disney does that, jeez not even studio Ghibli) and not having any chance to experience any other relationship. Never experiencing a broken heart, or someone better. I think that it gives the wrong idea, telling guys that no matter how long they are placed in friendzone, eventually the girl will fall for them. They just have to keep insisting.

You could say, but what a hypocrite! Snow White was 14 years old when she went to live with that prince! Many princesses are 16! And not to mention that many men were the first they met! Like Aurora, Rapunzel, and Cinderella. Well, you are right at one point. But ... the interaction of these characters changes radically, mainly because they never "give cute kisses" to their future husbands, nor do they treat them like their brothers or their children and ... the men were never friendzoned, except for Naveen at the beginning. You see the real attraction of teenage girls with an older boy. And I'm not saying that they should never be friends or support each other. Mulan and Chang were allies, friends, they supported each other, they saved their lives. But at no time was there the kind of interaction Katara and Aang had.

If Kataang was to be endgame, we would see Katara’s reaction to Jet, totally different, THAT kind of reaction was what I was waiting. (That kind of reaction is what every princess do, at least one time)

The same chemistry we saw in Yukka / Sukka. Honestly, I saw more chemistry between Haru and Katara.

Or at least give us some character development like: Aang, I know my feelings where not as you wanted but now I decided I want to be with you because (list everything here except he being the avatar), I really like you, perhaps we can give it a shot. Or like several things that could clue us that she is interested (come on people, two persons can kiss/hug/ have sex and that doesn’t imply they will be together in a formal relationship) But all we got was: Oh, right, he’s the avatar... suddenly I fell for him and I’m gonna kiss him fully in the mouth and that’s how I’ll tell him and that all my confusion has magically disappeared.

X. I’ve never saw that kind of spark between them. Again, it was “Just a hug”

Yes! That’s initially the whole point of it, a friendship hug, the truth of why we don’t need silly blushes. Because that forgiveness hug shows their initial relationship, they are friends! All their love needs to come first from a truthful friendship, by the contrary of calling the “immediate falling” like Aang did for Katara, it shows us that friendship love can evolve into something more beautiful, and that’s why we like the ship, because all zutara shippers know Zuko and Katara wouldn’t fall in love like that all of the sudden, they have to create the romantic relationship, and that’s what we portray in the fics.

What makes Zutara exceptional is that he, sees her, he hears her, he listens what she had to do, at anytime he forced her to do something she didn’t. And before a “teenager adolescence ship” he sees her as a human, with feelings with own ideals and goals.

And there is a complete and extremely well based analysis in: The crossroads of destiny + The southern raiders + The lighting saving.

XI. The comics show us how toxic they really where.

Their interaction in the comics was something I like to call: destroying a character. Not only Katara, who turned to be that awesome badass to the submissive girlfriend. From how I see it in the series to the comics there’s all I have to say: That’s not my girl.

XII. How Katara could be queen of a country that almost aniquilates her tribe and killed her mother? It would be a betrayal.

I think this argument is out. Not valid. Is like saying a Jew can’t date a German because of the holocaust. (German doesn’t mean nazi, just as Zuko, who was from the Fire Nation and didn’t order Katara’s mother assassination, and not every citizen of the fire nation means a ruthless killer). Is like saying that a Japanese can’t date a us citizen because of the bombs in WW2. And even if we see it “political”, is like… an aphrodescendant can’t rule a country that is racist, then Mr. Obama would have never reached the presidency.

Two persons can unify them, because they can demonstrate that being from different country that initally has not good terms can reach peace. The union between those countries represents the power of maturity, of overcoming adversities and the power of forgiveness. *Our lands now connected by love* And I want her to be queen, I want her to rule, I want her in charge, I want her in power. Imagine all the potential she could have (politics, business, negotiations, rebuilding, restoration, education, public health!! ***faints***) Not only for the fire Nation but for the whole world! Imagine that once Zuko abdicated they left to the south pole and she opened a fighting school and a healing school of her own (like master Pakku, but now her students are given a medical license that acknowledges them as professional healers) And this is just an idea. Like these ideas are hundreds. It would have been the perfect feminist role model!

XIII. Since the beginning, Katara was always interested in Aang and she always supported him and was for him when he needed her. That’s proof they were meant to each other.

If a girl expresses faith in your abilities, she loves you, she hugs you, and she supports you clearly she’s completely into you. Because obviously female best friends don’t exist.