#crossroads of destiny

[demaparbat-hp]

... oh, boy.

[starlight-bread-blog]

Zutara Ship Baiting Moments

Before I start listing off the scenes I need to explain this: The scenes are coded as romantic, they're not explicitly romantic. I'm not saying Zuko and Katara were canonically in love with each other, I'm saying some scenes ended up tropy with romantic undertones.

THE WATERBENDING SCROLL:

"I'll save you from the pirates".

Yeah he's threatening her, but what is this line? Why did he grab her hands while saying that? Why did he get so close to her, even after she was tied? Why wrapping his hand around her? All of this is extra work to the animators. He could have just dangled it in front of her, but instead we got a typical enemies to lovers moment.

THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH PART 1:

(1th) "Well, aren't you a big girl now".

(2th) "You rise with the moon, I rise with the sun".

Once again he says these lines, that are completely unnecessary, shippy, enemies to lovers. Why? What is it doing here?

THE CROSSROADS OF DESTINY:

The soft yet exciting music, the shinning crystals, Katara's hand on Zuko's thumb, all speak for themselves. Katara absolutly didn't have to touch Zuko's face like this, they get interrupted. And when she heals she puts the water on the spot, so I'd make sense if they got interrupted. But they didn't, and she didn't even took out the water. Then it won't be shippy.

THE SOUTHERN RAIDERS:

This is a perfect example of the "Suggestive Collision" trope. An actual romance trope. And then, of course, the "Please Get Off Me" trope. They're used to create romantic tension. Whyyyyyy?

EMBER ISLAND PLAYERS:

Aang is about to sit next to Katara, and then Zuko steals his seat. Katara notices, tucks her hair behind her hair and gives Zuko a glance. Why do that? Why do something that really looks like it's foreshadowing a love triangle? Why do that when it goes by so fast and does nothing? Why animating this? Why writing this?

SOZIN'S COMET PART 2:

"She's not my girlfriend"!

Another typical romance trope, the "She Is Not My Girlfriend". Used for romantic leads/ eventual romantic leads.

SOZIN'S COMET PART 4:

What else can I say about this scene? It's very obviously ship baiting. But if you don't think it is, here's a video taken from here with Sokka inserted there. What a beautiful comclusion to a beautiful relationship.

[flilisskywalker]

Katara: *holding Aang in her arms* I'll avenge you, Aang. Azula: Is that... the water tribe peasant? Zuko: SHE HAS A GUN.

[geegers22]

“Zutara doesn’t work because-“

Stop right there. Your argument died the second they started playing integral parts in each other’s character arcs

[lucifertookmyshoe]

Caught up thinking about how fucking lucky Zuko was that Azula had the idea to pose as the Kyoshi Warriors in Ba Sing Se.

Because if Katara had succeeded in turning him in to the real Kyoshi Warriors, he and Iroh would have been arrested and then executed, something well-established in canon. While I doubt Katara would intend for that to happen, it doesn’t negate the way her actions could have played out if his sister hadn’t been playing 3D chess while everyone else was playing checkers.

[stardust948]

I just realized no one knows Katara offered to heal Zuko’s scar. The Ember Island Players didn't protray that in the play. Zuko and Katara never told the others. It was always their secret.

[miss-sweetea-pie]

One of my favorite parallels between Aang and Zuko is during the crossroads of destiny episode. I feel like it’s more subtle since lot that happened was side sweep mostly in Aang case unfortunately.

For most of the story we noticed Aang and Zuko are parallel with each other for example we get their back stories at the same time, we watch them work together. And during the guru and crossroad episode we see that they need to make an active decision on who they are meant to be. Time to face there wants and needs.

For Aang his want is to be with Katara no matter the cost vs his need to master the avatar state.

And for Zuko it’s wanting to go home to the fire nation vs need to do the right thing and make an active decision and be branded as a traitor.

And the really interesting part is that the writers use katara as an anchor in away to express this point.

My favorite way to explain it is that Zuko was suppose to let Katara in and Aang was suppose to let her go.

And guess what they both fail.

Zuko’s betrayal was supposed to be a surprise for both the audience and the characters. all out in the open. oh no! Zuzu we where rooting for you! How could you?

Aangs betrayal was a secret only the audience and Aang knew about it. And it should have been explored more in season three. And yes Aang did betray everyone when he turn his back on the Guru. And he definitely betrayed Katara in that moment, because all katara wants is for him to have control of the avatar state and end this war. And it crazy that Aang keeps the truth to himself, like he doesn’t feel bad about keeping that from Katara? So much for getting the mark of the trusted. Am I right? (Sure the show tried to explain that azula’s lightning blocked his chakras now but that sounds more like a sloppy way to fix it so Aang can get his forever girl, also it ruins the narrative, this was an internal struggle for Aang to overcome) I have heard the argument that Aang being shot with lightning was a punishment for letting go of Katara but I see it more as a punishment for letting her go in that moment when he should have already done it. Think about it if he just mastered the avatar state he essentially could’ve just rolled into Ba Sing Se with god mode activated, stopped Azula and black sun would have been a success and war is over. Him not letting go of Katara when the Guru suggests it does however tie into he’s character flaw, avoidance. he waited till he has no choice but to do it so he is “punished” for it.

Well at least Zuko got to redeem himself. All Aang got was a perfectly place rock it’s a shame.

[flameo-hotman12]

If Katara had healed Zuko’s scar, do you think that Zuko would have joined them earlier? Do you think he still would’ve betrayed her? Why or why not? I’m genuinely curious what y’all think.

Also, does anyone have any recs for zutara fanfics where she does end up healing his scar?

[outpastthemoat]

thinking about how aang and iroh are character foils at the end of book two.  by “crossroads of destiny,” both aang and iroh have loved ones who have been captured by enemy forces, and both make the choice to go after them even if it means risking their own lives.  

for aang, rescuing katara means giving up on ever reaching the avatar state again, a perilous choice in the face of the approaching comet and his ever-looming battle with ozai.  and iroh is in a very similar place to aang.  he has followed zuko across oceans, across the entirety of the earth kingdom, and now he follows zuko once again into the catacombs of ba sing se, not accepting that zuko had left him behind purposefully in order to confront azula on his own.  

In “crossroads of destiny,” both aang and iroh chose attachment over surrender.  and for both aang and iroh, it is the wrong choice.

iroh vindicates aang’s choice to return for katara, telling him that choosing happiness and prosperity over power is the right decision, but. . .even though those words might hold true in general, they’re not true in either iroh or aang’s situation.  in trying to save a loved one, both characters make a choice that ends in tragedy.  aang’s decision to prioritize his attachment to katara gets him killed by azula.  iroh’s decision to go after zuko ends up with zuko choosing to side with azula.  it’s the same lesson luke skywalker must learn at the end of “the empire strikes back,” when he chooses to go after han and leia rather than stay and learn from yoda.  luke pays dearly for his choice—and so do iroh and aang.

if aang had chosen to stay and learn at the eastern air temple, if iroh had chosen to let zuko challenge azula on his own—who knows what might have changed in their stories?  zuko and katara might have been able to overcome their differences and work together to defeat azula.  but with aang’s possessiveness and animosity present—and iroh’s insistence that zuko “chose the side of good” when he really wants zuko to chose him—zuko falls back into the same old patterns.

iroh and aang are even framed the same way in this scene.  both characters run to their figure of attachment and throw their arms around them—literally and figuratively clinging to their loved ones.  katara’s braid even mirrors iroh’s.  

in “crossroads of destiny,” iroh is not making zuko confront his destiny, he’s literally holding him back from it.  aang is not protecting katara, he is merely acting on his own fears of losing her.  but it is only through letting go of their attachment that both aang and iroh achieve the happiness they desire.  

when sozin’s comet arrives, iroh lets zuko leave with his friends and choses to help the white lotus liberate ba sing se—and at the end of the war, zuko returns to him voluntarily, the loving son that iroh has longed for.  meanwhile, aang leaves katara and his friends behind to seek out the wisdom of the lionturtle.   aang surrenders his attachment and faces his fear of being left alone by choosing to confront ozai by himself—and because of this surrender, he is able to achieve the avatar state once more and overpower ozai.  hitting his spine on that rock was merely a physical reminder of the internal journey aang had already gone through.  

in the end, aang and his friends achieve peace and prosperity for themselves and the world, not by clinging to what they have—but by letting go of what they want.  

[juniperhillpatient]

another thing that’s not exactly new from me but — there is simply NO valid (imo) argument that Azula does not work very hard to bring Zuko home with his honor. capturing him as a prisoner would have been quite simple & the audience has no reason to doubt she would do so without hesitation. yet she convinces him that coming home a hero is his redemption. why? the argument that she needs a scapegoat holds no water given - again - she could have used Zuko for that from the start. (that’s given you even belive she KNOWS Aang is alive before the later giveaways from Zuko but we’re not quite there yet)

Azula held all the cards & she chose to give Zuko the opportunity to come home & regain his place as heir to the throne.

and this is NOT an argument that Azuls is secretly heroic or altruistic. I think Azula believes firmly in Fire Nation traditions. I think were Zuko to become heir to the throne & even Firelord eventually - she would gladly serve him & continue to violently colonize the world. Azula believes in her nation’s supremacy & she is an imperialist. this is why she’s a villain - because she was raised with evil beliefs & never given an opportunity to question them & thus reinforces those violent beliefs without question or hesitation. She is also precise & talented in battle & diplomacy making her a dangerous enemy for our heroes.

I do think family is very important to Azula & that Zuko - along with Mai & Ty Lee - is one of the people she remembers regarding as a peer & friend in her childhood & that she wants him home & be by her side not imprisoned. this has always been & continues to be a hill I will die on.

[parkiebearr]

Zutara Week 2022- Day 2/3: Familiar + Hands

AYOOOO IS THAT LIKE THE SCENE FROM CROSSROADS OF DESTINY?!?!?!?!? hmmmm… seems a little familiar if you ask me..

*click for better quality*

[aangarchy]

One thing i have to appreciate abt crossroads of destiny despite the heartbreak i experience every time i watch that episode, is how well done the last fight is.

The effortless teamwork between Aang and Katara, bc at this point they've been in enough battles together they don't even need to glance at each other. How quickly everything happened after Zuko's entrance. How Zuko's focus shifts from Azula to Aang, and Aang immediately notices something is up, he gasps bc he knows what's about to come. Zuko fires at Aang and Aang immediately reacts because he connected the dots that quick. Azula not even hesitating and instantly focusing on Katara while Zuko unleashes his anger onto Aang.

Idk that particular sequence is just the crème de la crème of unspoken dialogue and storytelling go argue with the wall.

[hotgirlkorra]

When the Crossroads of Destiny came out when I was 11-12? Thereabouts. I couldn't enjoy the season finale. Not because the 4 part back to back episodes were bad. But because I couldn't stand watching Aang getting his ass beat. I couldn't stand watching the good guys getting beaten by the antagonist at that age. Even though narratively wise/storytelling wise, it was probably a very smart decision in order to raise the stakes of ATLA even more.

Still didn't like watching Aang nearly DIE at age 11 though!

[spacecasehobbit]

So maybe this was obvious, but it only occurred to me today that there's a really nice parallel structure to Zuko's arc in Zuko Alone vs. his Crossroads of Destiny arc.

-

In Zuko Alone, he starts off at one of his lowest points: he's completely alone and starving as a fugitive hiding in a foreign land; he decides to stop stealing to feed himself when he rejects the idea of attacking a pregnant couple he encounters on the road, but this means he has to start taking on odd jobs for strangers whom he would have looked down on for their poverty and "small" lives not so long ago.

Over the course of the episode, he starts to remember the kind of person he wants to be - the kind of person his mother thought he could be. By the end of the episode he is able to choose compassion for a town and kid he had bonded with over his own self-interests, when he returns to the town to fight of bullies who used their military strength to oppress the townspeople. He triumphantly casts off the lies he'd been hiding under, declares his true name and title to the whole village, and defeats the bullies as himself.

After owning the truth of who he is, Zuko is summarily rejected for this truth by the whole town.

-

In contrast, Zuko starts off the Crossroads of Destiny arc in a pretty good place. He and Iroh have been reasonably safe in Ba Sing Se for a while now, Iroh has just opened a fancy new tea shop, and Zuko is finally started the process of learning how to be happy with this smaller but perfectly good and reasonable life. Then their cover is blown when Katara recognizes them, Azula sets up a trap to con them out of hiding, and Zuko gets captured and thrown into a dungeon alone with Katara.

At first, Katara hates him because she knows exactly who he is - the firebender who has been chasing her and her friends across the world, the prince of the nation that killed her mother, the descendant of the men who have been destroying the world for the past 100 years. They argue at first, but Katara begins to accept Zuko after learning about their shared trauma over the loss of their mothers. Their moment of understanding is broken first with the arrival of Aang and Iroh, and then further upset with Azula's arrival.

It's an inverted mirror to his arc in Zuko Alone: Zuko starts off being rejected for his identity as a Prince of the Fire Nation and the harm he personally has caused in the past, he is offered sympathy and understanding by a former enemy after they both open up about a similar past trauma, and then he is presented with a choice between aiding Azula and the Dai Li (the bullies who use military might to get and maintain control over others), or aiding Katara and Aang (the people who threaten the strength/control of those at the top).

-

In both arcs, Zuko seeks acceptance based on who he is and the skills he brings in to help the ones he chose to side with.

In Zuko Alone, he makes the right choice to help the townspeople against the militarized bullies using their strength to put others down. He owns the truth of his identity, and he gets rejected for it.

He does the right thing, he tells the truth, and he winds up once more alone and hiding.

In the Crossroads of Destiny, he makes the wrong choice to side with the militarized bullies against the people they're trying to oppress and destroy in service to their own power. He thinks that he is owning the truth of who he is, that he is seeking acceptance based not on sympathy for his past but on the merits of his own strength. And as we learn at the start of S3, he is accepted back home not based on the truth, but based on Azula's lie.

He does the wrong thing, he is ostensibly accepted back into his home and his family, and he learns that the acceptance is based on a lie.

At the end of both arcs, Zuko winds up back in hiding, maintaining a lie about who he is or what he's done, to keep himself safe.

[sadorartt]

"That's something we have in common"

@zutaraweek

[reticenceofladyeva]

In Mediis Semitis

He’s a child—a child—and he thinks like a child, and someone has to be the adult and think and plot and hurt, so he doesn’t have to. So she takes a deep breath and plunges away from him, and his face crumples, his eyes wide with horror as she betrays him. 

But then the battle is over; Azula crushed by overconfidence and the ceiling of a crystal cave that he never would have brought down with Katara beneath it. Ba Sing Se is saved, and Katara cries in the arms of a Fire Nation general as Prince Zuko’s narrow eyes follow an enormous white bison slipping over the horizon.

.

.

.

Katara stays behind with Zuko in Ba Sing Se, which I 1000% do not have time to write but want to anyway.