#heavy emphasis on anti cause I’m not about to go through this again

[maikingsenseofit]

The problem with Zutara: Katara through the lens of Zuko

In this last part, we debunked the claims that a lot of the symbolism and imagery in the show represented Zvtara, when they very clearly paralleled Kataang. The next part of this meta addresses claims that Zuko and Katara knew each other and cared for each other more than their canonical partners, and I couldn’t wait to get into this. You see, on a surface level and with very cherry picked scenes, anyone can try and make that case. And I’m not going to deny the significance of their eventual beautiful friendship. However let’s analyze how much Zuko and Katara really understood each other, and if they really cared for one another or made a better fit for each other more than Mai or Aang. I’ll be referencing common Anti-Maiko/Anti-Kataang arguments here.

During the Crossroads of Destiny episode, we witness something remarkable. Two people, torn apart by a war, brought together by circumstance. And Katara does something even more amazing, for the first time she sees Zuko not as an enemy, but as a boy whose circumstances have taken a great toll on him too. He’s not just the face of the enemy. He lost his mother too. And she does something even more incredible, she offers to heal Zuko’s scar with her precious spirit water, even though he had wronged her and her friends, chased them relentlessly, almost killed them sverral times, taunted her over a precious token from her mom, you get the story. So despite having no obligations, she reaches out and takes a chance on him.

They’re eventually pulled apart. Katara later realizes that her efforts and empathy did not mean anything to Zuko, as despite it all, he still sides with his sister in an effort to gain his precious honor. Meaning, contrary to popular belief, that at this moment he did not care enough about Katara to choose her amity over his personal quest. Hell, he thought betraying his own uncle was worth it in the quest for honor. So why is this important?

Because not once when Zuko returns to the fire nation, does he express any guilt over betraying Katara personally. Not once do we see him take the second to remember the pain he inflicted upon her, which is even more poignant because she was the first person to trust him, to broach that divide across enemy lines, and to offer something so precious to her to heal him. We see Zuko agonize about betraying his uncle throughout his time, but not Katara. Sure, he was in anguish over trying to be someone he wasn’t in the fire nation, but the audience never once sees Zuko remember or mention the water tribe girl through the lens of her significant act of bravery and compassion. Even more, he only remembers their interaction in the context of how the Avatar could be alive - and how this further jeopardizes his position as Ozai’s son.

So much for thinking about the water tribe girl who put herself at risk to help you, huh Zuko. (Btw I’m not actually hating on him and nor do I think this makes him a bad character or bad fit with Mai, I’m just pointing out some glaring misconceptions about how he thinks of Katara)

And this becomes all the more evident when Katara doesn’t immediately accept him into the group. Zuko is actually bewildered by the fact that she doesn’t become friends with him as immediately as the rest of the Gaang. But the cherry on top is when Zuko has the audacity to get upset and frustrated with Katara, exclaiming

“This isn't fair. Everyone else seems to trust me now. What is it with you?”

It’s here. Plain as day and written in text. Zuko could not even remember the most pivotal aspect of the start of his relationship with Katara, the one that shippers claim has even more poignance and development than any scene from the canon ships. What Katara is so clearly hurt and impacted by, so much so that she was the only one to initially remain distrustful of Zuko when everyone else wasnt, and constantly verbalized that distrust - did not even hold the same weight to Zuko. It was a fleeting moment to him on his journey to find and redeem himself, but represented everything to Katara. And it shows on her face and in her words when she says this next:

And the cherry on top of the cherry on top of this is that when Zuko enters Sokka’s tent, he STILL can’t fathom why Katara hates him.

Zuko: Your sister, she hates me! And I don't know why! But I do care what she thinks of me.

WAIT. DIDNT Zuko JUST hear Katara when she said he betrayed the precious trust she placed in him? How his actions led to her witnessing the death (and revival) of her best friend? How he relentlessly attacked her in the cave after almost immediately forgetting her compassion? And it must be asked at this moment why Zuko cares about what Katara thinks of him. Because even At this point, he still fails to acknowledge the extent that his actions had on her.

Had Katara never taken the chance to verbalize her feelings, Zuko would have carried on with the Gaang, not being aware of or having more remorse over his personal betrayal to Katara. Would Zuko have come to this realization himself if Katara never explicitly told him? If it didn’t impede his ability to form a strong alliance with everyone in the Gaang in order to work together to take down Ozai?

And that’s when I become puzzled over statements like “Zuko cared about Katara and understood her on a way deeper level than Aang ever did.” Because what we see her is quite the opposite of that. Zuko only remembered Katara’s spirit water and how it put a wrench in his plans, but couldn’t remember Katara herself. He couldn’t couldn’t recall his betrayal of her in the cave, couldn’t understand her initial hatred even after she pointed it out, and used the opportunity to hunt her mother’s killer to redeem himself in her eyes. Something that would have never happened until the narrative called for it.

Speaking of the last part, the other common Zvtara argument I see is “Zuko understood Katara’s pain and allowed her to feel it. Aang shut it down.”

At this point it’s becoming a game of selective ignorance. Because the shippers will claim that “Aang compared something as serious as Kya’s death to the trivial temporary loss of an animal” without acknowledging the literal next thing he says, which is:

“How do you think I felt about the Fire Nation when I found out what happened to my people?”

Which IS a fair comparison. Aang mentions the genocide of his family to empathize with Katara’s loss of her mother.

And they also pretend that Aang shut Katara down completely in order to force his values down her throat and discourage her from going on the trip, which is in blatant ignorance of when Aang says this:

“I wasn't planning to. This is a journey you need to take. You need to face this man. [Katara situates herself on Appa's head.] But when you do, please don't choose revenge. Let your anger out, and then let it go. Forgive him.”

And Yeah, Katara chose not to forgive her mothers killer. As she should. But let’s not forget what she does at the end, which is to let her anger out and then let it go. She ultimately did not choose revenge. And Aang knows this.

Because Aang witnessed Katara cry in regret when she learned about blood bending, something Zuko never witnessed. And he knows the toll that killing a person would take on Katara, someone who is inherently compassionate and wishes to see the good in everyone. Who was willing to put aside the injustices she faced at the hands of the Fire Nation to truly help the enemy she had every right to hate, like how she helped the village as the Painted Lady and reached out to Zuko in the cave. Something else Zuko never truly grasps till much later, because why else was it so hard for him to remember her poignant compassionate act?

And lastly, when Zuko blocks Azula’s lightning strike directed at Katara. While a lot of shippers claim, as they are free to do so, that Zuko did this because of his profound and undying love for Katara and that he couldn’t fathom living in a world without her, I can’t help but think back to this post where Zuko would have done the exact same thing if it was any member of the Gaang in her position. Much less that, but do you think he would hesitate to throw himself in front of Azula if it was Mai in Katara’s position?

Because it doesn’t matter who it was. As part of Zuko’s final act of redemption, he realizes that true honor comes from doing the right thing, not for personal validation. The reason for Katara’s presence isn’t romantic - but it exists narratively because this is the same girl he betrayed to join his sister in order to validate himself in his father’s eyes. Emphasis on HIMSELF. But after this entire journey, it doesn’t matter whether Zuko lives or dies. Because at this moment, Zuko realizes that saving the world and doing the right thing is worth more than a trivial Pat on the back from his father. There is a lot of poignance from the authors choosing Katara to be there, instead of Toph or even Momo. But to say that this act is because Zuko had this undying romantic love for Katara that was never fully realized is undermining his whole arc.

As I’m writing this I realize that my qualm isn’t about people shipping Zvtara in the first place. I too have such ships. But it’s the fact that people who ship them use this a tool to further the agenda that Zuko never loved and cared about Mai as much as he did Katara or Katara with Aang . I remember reading this post from a blog called the crooked pen when I initially joined the fandom, who attempted to upholster Zvtara through this argument:

Now literally replace that second sentence with Katara. Not once does Zuko mention Katara after Ba Sing Se during the time he was at the fire nation. He only remembers their interaction as an obstacle preventing him from reaching his goal. He obsesses over his betrayal of Iroh for a great deal, however. And This is after Katara willingly put herself at risk, knowing the consequences, by extending the olive branch and almost giving him her spirit water to heal. And people want to convince me that he had this unfulfilled, undying love for Katara that he never had for Mai, despite him taking the extra precautions to protect her physically through a letter, even if it meant hurting her and himself emotionally, and literally giving us the biggest smile we had ever seen from him when he mentioned her?

Which makes this second part even more frivolous because there’s a reason why he cares about the opinion of water tribe girl, and it’s not because he’s deeply and irrevocably in love with her and has much more to do with it being the last piece of the puzzle of a strong alliance, built on trust, to take down evil, once and for all.

Also please refer to @thethiefandtheairbender’s post about him “forgetting” her in prison, when in reality she was freed before everyone formally was at his coronation.

Anyways, this is one of the reasons why I personally never saw the potential in what people claim to be infinitely better than the original canon ships. The next part is Zuko through the lens of Katara. Let me know your thoughts!

[overthinkingkdrama]

Jona's Top 5 Second Male Leads Who Deserved to End Up Alone

[Disclaimer: This list is intended for entertainment purposes. It includes spoilers for the tagged shows. This is just my personal opinion, so I apologize in advance if I’m bashing your fave. I just woke up this morning and thought, “You know, I haven’t pissed anyone off in a while.”]

In the Kdrama fandom much is made of SLS, or Second Lead Syndrome, that is the condition of sympathizing with the secondary character, usually male and usually the hypotenuse of a love triangle, over and above the actual hero and wishing he would get with the female lead instead. Most of the time because the hero is an asshole and the second lead treats her like a human being. There are occasionally examples of SLS regarding the second female characters, but it is far more common with male, because unfortunately second female leads have a tendency to be stock characters or finger-steepling jealousy monsters, instead of fully fleshed out people. God knows I’ve had my share of SLS in every flavor…

But this isn’t a list about SLS, but rather the opposite of that. This is about the second leads I had no patience for. The ones who are a waste of air and screen time. The ones who annoyed me with their shitty “nice guy” attitudes or frustrated me with their passivity. The ones I immediately wanted to punch in the face. In short, the second leads who deserved to end up alone.

5. Kang Shin Woo/ You’re Beautiful

I’ve gone off several times in the past on the infuriating species infesting dramaland I’ve termed the “passive pining second lead”. I really dislike this character type, it drives me up a tree. So you knew going in one of these boys was going to end up on this list.

It didn’t have to be Kang Shin Woo. It could easily have been Ji Hoo from BoF or Kang Woo from Master’s Sun. Or any number of other second leads who fit this archetype. But it had to be one of them.

I can’t really explain to you why Shin Woo earned my particular ire. Maybe it was just teeth-grinding frustration I felt with each successive, convoluted attempt to woo Mi Nyeo. Maybe it was the weirdness of that let-me-stalk-you-via-telephone-while-you-go-on-a-solo-date thing. Or that fact that the male lead was such an unmitigated moron.

Shin Woo managed to miss his window while Mi Nyeo was still crushing on him hard. He had countless opportunities to confess his feelings and just waited and waited until she was almost obliged to fall for Tae Kyung out of sheer impatience. This is the kind of character that makes me want to tear my hair and yell at the screen “USE YOUR FRICKEN WORDS!”

Luckily, there’s an appealing “third lead” in You're Beautiful who saves it from mediocrity, and the drama is otherwise such dopey, fluffy fun that you can’t help but be endeared. Jeremy saves this from being higher on the list.

4. Lee Ji Hoon/ The Best Hit

Talk about a character who has one of the worst cases of “Nice Guy” syndrome I’ve ever seen. Lee Ji Hoon was one of those characters I was initially rooting for, since Best Hit’s ambiguous love lines appear to leave things open ended as far as the end game couple was concerned. For the first half of the drama it seemed like things could go either way, and the friends-to-lovers dynamic between Ji Hoon and Woo Seung was endearing and heartfelt.

Also Kim Min Jae is pretty. So, so pretty…

For a while I was worried he was going to fall into the “passive pining” category, remaining silent, and losing his chance. But finally he made up his mind to confess and I was ecstatic. Yes! Go for it! And that was just about when it all went wrong.

The way a male character handles rejection and disappointment is make or break in my book. It takes them farther than charisma, looks and even moral fiber. (Give me a pirate or a conman over an entitled asshole.) And for me Ji Hoon totally failed this very important test. After Woo Seung told him she didn’t return his feelings Ji Hoon continually badgered and attempted to win her over even when she asked him to stop, intentionally made her uncomfortable, and thrust a surprise kiss on her. My frustration with his character grew until the point were he told Woo Seung that he regretted meeting her first as his friend, after which point he was dead to me.

Despite the potential ickiness of timetravel paternity shenanigans, I was so relieved when Hyun Jae ended up being our male lead. The Best Hit remains one of my very favorite dramas of the year and I still highly recommend it. But if you want to come at me about SLS for poor, poor Ji Hoon, kindly get out of my house.

3. Han Tae Jin/ Another Oh Hae Young

Han Tae Jin had all the makings of a really interesting, sympathetic anti-hero. After all, he comes across like the obvious wronged party in this love triangle. Due to a case of mistaken identity, Tae Jin becomes the target of the jealous spite of our male lead, Park Do Kyung, ultimately causing the ruin of his business, the breaking of his engagement with the titular Hae Young, and getting him sent to prison! Ouch. That’s a lot of angst wrapped in an attractive Lee “Chiseled Jaw For Days” Jae Yoon.

And yet, instead of cutting a fetchingly tragic figure, Tae Jin turned out to be a vengeful, bitter, violent man incapable of letting go of a grudge even for the woman he supposedly loved. He was such an emotionally unstable, loose canon that I was frequently uncomfortable when he was onscreen. If I’m not very much mistaken he assaults Do Kyung not once, but several times, to such a degree that Hae Young ends meeting him to beg him not to hurt Do Kyung anymore. It struck me as incredibly messed up.

I really didn’t want Lee Jae Yoon on this list twice– I have nothing against the actor–which is the only reason his Cruel City character Detective Ji Hyung Min wasn’t on this list instead. I actually like Lee Jae Yoon! Just not the characters he tends to play…Luckily, Cruel City wasn’t extremely focused on the love triangle, it was focused on the pain. I chose his character in OHYA instead because, being a romance focused drama the way they handled the love polygon was more important to me. By the end of the drama they attempted to redeem him and it just didn’t work for me at all. Keep this dude the hell away from me.

2. Lee Joon Hee/ Falling for Innocence

There are a variety of strategies drama writers use to make us root for the jerk chaebol hero over and against the started-from-the-bottom second lead with treats the female lead with tenderness and respect. They give their heroes tragic backstories, slowly grow them into human beings, build UST, and give them melodramatic redemption arcs. The options are basically endless.

But why go through all of that when you can just make your second lead a secret scumbag murderer! There…all sorted.

This was honestly the most confounding bait and switch love line I’ve probably ever seen. When the reveal of who was ultimately responsible for the death of Sung Joon’s fiancé finally happened I very nearly threw my tablet across the room. They go to a lot of trouble to give Joon Hee a sympathetic long time unrequited love backstory as well as motivation for his sometimes morally dubious corporate ladder climbing. They also give him frequent shippy scenes with Sung Joon where he takes care of her and worries about her or vice versa. While in contrast Min Ho is absolutely horrible to her for a good portion of the show, the only thing that redeems him being a literal personality transplant.

They go out of their way to present this like it’s a legitimate love triangle, when given all of the facts it’s nothing of the kind. It makes me wonder why they even bothered trying to get me invested in the character since it turns out he’s actually evil.

Upon rewatch (started this one again rather recently) I had a lot more fun with this drama. Since I already knew what I was getting into I had the resounding pleasure of yelling at the screen every time Joon Hee and Sung Joon get a cutsy or romantic scene, which is very satisfying. The real reason to watch this show, Min Ho’s horrid behavior in the first episodes notwithstanding, is because Jung Kyung Ho is absolutely hysterical. For me it’s still kind of a garbage show with a garbage plot, but, hey, I love garbage.

1. Goo Jung Hee/ Ms. Perfect

There are very few characters in drama land that inspire in me the kind of hatred I felt for Jung Hee throughout this series. There are villians that don’t fill me with such seething rage. There’s a lot of adjectives I could use to describe Jung Hee. Loathsome comes to mind. An incomplete list of others would include: spineless, selfish, sniveling, and “the slimiest weakling ever to crawl the earth.”

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. I hate this so called man. And yet, to my eternal confusion he is loved by and romantically involved with not one, not two, but three different women throughout the course of the show.

Actually, this entry poses a little bit of a problem regarding what we actually consider to be a “second male lead”. For the majority of the list so far I’ve been using the definition of the “second romantic lead” or, in brief, “the member of the obligatory love triangle who doesn’t get the girl” rather than “a male character with lesser narrative importance and/or subordinate billing to the male lead.”

In Kdrama the two things are usually one in the same. Usually, but not always. The reason is a) most dramas place a heavy emphasis on romance b) romantic fulfillment is usually the overt goal or the overt reward of the hero’s character arc and c) if a show ends without romantic closure (dating, marriage, babies ever after) it’s not generally seen as “satisfying”. But there are cases where the character with top billing or greater narrative importance is not meant to be our romantic lead, or even necessarily someone we root for. Jung Hee falls into this category, which made me wonder if I should even include him on this list.

Because Yoon Sang Hyun received top billing and was considered, by all reports, the lead in Ms. Perfect there was a great deal of disagreement and turbulence surrounding the intended endgame of the drama. Sung Joon’s Kang Bong Goo readily fits the mold of the romantic lead but his screen time is about half of Jung Hee’s, so I can readily understand where these concerns came from.

I’m happy to report that Jung Hee remained a subject of sometimes pity, but more often disgust, and the only thing that really disappointment me with his plot trajectory was that he didn’t end up dying in a fire at the end of the show. Missed opportunity IMO. While certainly a weird and flawed drama, Ms. Perfect remained entertaining throughout its run and I honestly would recommend it if for no other reason that Shim Jae Bok is a goodamn queen. There is the notable downside that this character has forever ruined Yoon Sang Hyun for me as an actor, as I can’t even see his face without feeling slightly ill.

I hope you enjoyed my top fave LEAST favorite male leads. This list was requested anonymously and I would be interested in producing other, similar lists in the future. If you have a subject you’d like me to cover please send me an ask or reply to this post and I’ll take it under consideration.

Jona

[llantano]

Turning Leaves, 15. Invaluable

As Amelia ended her call, Dorian took a few quiet steps backwards so that she could put on her smile, hide how volatile she felt, and enter the room as if just arriving from the kitchen.

"Oh, Amelia," she uttered upon entering the room, feigning surprise, "you're still here…."

Amelia lifted her eyebrow at Dorian's drink. "What is that?"

Dorian blinked at her with attitude and took a couple of swallows before answering. "Bourbon and coke - do you want some?" She smiled with sarcasm.

"No, thank you." Amelia tucked her cell phone into her pocket, turning her mind back to what they had been discussing before. "I ordered the photographs." She stood and slid her laptop into its case. "You know, if you have a headache, you should probably take something." As she put her computer away, she remembered her previous agenda. She still felt uneasy about Dorian's reluctance to discuss Ray Montez and wanted to get to the bottom of it.

"I did take something," Dorian nodded. She sipped her drink again as she plopped down on the couch and slipped her feet out of her shoes. She watched Amelia out of the corner of her eye and tried to appear casual and comfortable.

Amelia sighed at Dorian, gesturing at the drink. "Don't you read warning labels?"

Dorian scoffed. "Might I remind you … I'm the doctor here?"

"Is something bothering you, Dorian?" Amelia paused in genuine concern. "I thought you were going to find some chocolates?"

Dorian frowned. "I thought this would be more helpful. Are you sure you don't want to join me?" She stood and crossed the floor in her stockinged feet to put her drink down on the tray next to the decanter she often kept in the room. She held a glass up in Amelia's direction and lifted her eyebrows in encouragement. "It might help you relax."

"No, really, I'm fine," Amelia declined. She wondered if Dorian was implying that she was uptight.

Dorian read the dissatisfaction in Amelia's voice and wondered if Amelia disapproved. She also wondered again who had been on the phone. She surmised that Amelia was preparing to leave and eyed Amelia's pocket as she picked her drink back up and took it to one of the chairs facing the sofa. "Were you talking to someone earlier? I thought I heard voices from the other room but I…?" She shrugged and intentionally didn't finish her sentence.

"Oh," Amelia smiled. "Nick just wanted to make sure the meeting tonight went well." She tried to read Dorian's response. Something told her Dorian knew better.

"Ah." Dorian took a drink. She knew Amelia was lying, but couldn't show it. There was heavy pause in the room before she spoke again. "I had a little chat with Blair in the kitchen." Her eyes met her campaign manager's as Amelia waited for Dorian to elaborate. "She's … very supportive of what we're doing," Dorian assured, keeping her own secrets.

Amelia nodded with warmth. "I expected no less. She's been putting in a lot of hours for us. You should probably promote her to deputy campaign manager. She works hard and knows where she stands." Amelia didn't trust David as far as she could throw him and was deliberate in implying that he was inadequate.

Dorian's eyebrows furrowed. She knew Amelia was trying to get rid of David, but Dorian needed David on her side. Not only would it keep him away from Viki, but he also seemed to be the one person left in her campaign that remembered she was still interested in being heterosexual. "Actually," Dorian clarified to Amelia's dismay, "Blair is going to be focusing on Craze for the time being. I need David on my side. How would it look if he jumped ship and joined Viki's campaign?"

"You don't have much faith in his loyalty, do you?" Amelia smirked as she turned her back to set her bag on the floor next to the sofa.

Dorian sighed in frustration. Amelia had hit the nail on the head, and maybe she didn't want to admit it to herself. "Amelia, we need to get a few things straight."

Amelia sat back down across from Dorian, leaning forward. "Should I be concerned?"

Dorian swirled her drink in the glass and her eyes drifted upward. "I have to tell you I'm a bit … apprehensive … about how this is all going to unfold." She felt the need to clarify. "Not the campaign. The campaign is strong. I mean … our relationship – the timing." She glanced at Amelia's pocket again and wondered about the call log. Maybe she could think of an excuse to use Amelia's phone.

Amelia raised an eyebrow and cut to the chase. "You're wondering how we're going to end it."

Dorian blinked at Amelia, the abruptness of the observation drawing her back to the conversation at hand. "Well, yes. Yes, exactly."

Amelia inched around the coffee table and sat on it so that she would be close enough to grasp Dorian's forearms. "Dorian, listen. You said we needed to get a few things straight? Well, I think there's only one thing we need to keep straight, and that is that my relationship with you is not on the up-and-up."

"I agree," Dorian emphasized with a nod. Something about Amelia's admission of the fact rattled her.

"I never asked for that," Amelia clarified. "I asked you to support same-sex marriage. But when you said that we were in a relationship together, I saw an opportunity – to make a big difference – an opportunity that we could use to our advantage throughout this campaign." Her eyes sparkled with encouragement for a moment. "But here's the thing." She looked down and moved her hands to one of Dorian's, allowing her to hold her drink with the other. "I'm willing to walk across those smoldering coals with you, but I need to know you aren't going to jump off halfway to the finish line because your feet are too hot." She looked up as Dorian stared at her. "If there is any doubt in your mind – any chance that you're going to change your mind about this – we need to end this … now."

Dorian pulled her hand away and moved to stand behind the chair, looking down at Amelia. "So you're worried about your political reputation? Your career?"

Amelia paused to consider Dorian for a moment. "I'm concerned about that, yes. But I'm also concerned about how it would affect the cause. And frankly, you're not giving me a lot of confidence right now."

Dorian lowered her chin at Amelia. She felt defensive, but kept her voice as matter-of-fact as possible. "I have a lot more at stake here than you do – my business dealings, my position in this town, my family … shall I continue?"

"So you're saying you're willing to see this through?" Amelia asked, almost told, Dorian.

"Am I?" Dorian was being sarcastic. "Are you seriously asking me that?" she scoffed. She would not admit to Amelia that she had almost barged into the room minutes ago to call the whole thing off. "It sounds to me like you're the one having second thoughts."

Amelia could tell there was something Dorian wasn't saying. "Do I have reason to?" she asked, trying not to sound accusing.

"Do you?" Dorian repeated as she crossed her arms with care. "If we want out of this, we're going to have to come up with a pretty damned good excuse. And in the meantime, we both need to cover our butts."

Amelia agreed. "And on that note, I'm going to do an interview with The Intruder, so I'll need to know a few more things about you."

Dorian's mind seemed to run three different ways. "Such as?"

"Things a fiancée would know about her partner under normal circumstances. You know, things like … favorite color, where we met, who your last relationship was with…." She said it in the most casual tone possible, once again fishing for more information.

Dorian kept her arms folded, as she was unimpressed by the triviality of Amelia's list. "People will check these facts, you know."

"Exactly," Amelia grinned, trying to convince Dorian. "It's foolproof - especially if we can get your family and friends on board. Langston's article should get the ball rolling."

Dorian carried her drink to the desk and sat it down with a clank, spilling some of it. "No. We leave my family out of this." She faced Amelia.

Amelia eyed Dorian. She seemed a little too emphatic and she hadn't even had that much to drink. "Well, we can at least count on Blair … and David." She paused to assess Dorian's reaction. "Right?"

Dorian moved Langston's article to the far side of the desk and dabbed at the splash before she slid her hand over her forehead again, still bothered by Amelia's phone call, and still thoughtful over her conversation with Blair. "Listen, I'm done strategizing for the night." She stepped around Amelia to pick up a picture of Starr and swipe at the frame with her thumb. "But I want you to keep this in mind…." She lowered her voice with an expression of warning. "Because of our … parlous… situation…." She emphasized the word "situation." "…I'm entrusting you with my family, and I don't want the children involved in this any more than they have to be. Langston and Starr are old enough to decide on their own, but let's keep Jack, Sam, and – most importantly - precious Hope behind the scenes, okay? Don't bring up the children."

Amelia didn't agree. "It would be to your advantage to promote your family's solidarity and values."

Dorian shook her head with emphasis as she turned back to Amelia. "No," she demanded. "I refuse to put the children in danger, and … really … this is a very high-profile campaign." She spoke with her hands. "There are anti-gay … religious fanatics and … past enemies … Viki supporters … paparazzi…."

"Danger" was a strong word and Dorian was passionate. Amelia raised both hands in the air in surrender. "Fine. Okay."

Dorian could tell Amelia still didn't agree with her call. She looked at the doors leading into the foyer and lowered her voice as she pointed upstairs. "That baby has been through enough." She neglected to mention that she'd taken Starr and Hope's picture for Mayor Lowell's campaign right before they were kidnapped.

Amelia remembered hearing about Starr and Hope's recent kidnapping and knew that Dorian was leaving the reasons for her decision unspoken. "Okay," she shrugged. "You're the boss."

The statement reassured Dorian. "Yes, I am. Thank you."

"Can I at least get to know them a little bit better?" Amelia questioned with sincere and concerned undertones. "They live under the same roof as my future bride, so people are going to assume – at least I hope they assume – that I know a little bit about them."

Dorian tried to wrap her mind around Amelia's precarious situation. "Of course, of course," she half-whispered, more to herself than Amelia as she turned back around and put Starr's picture back in its place. "Wait a minute." She spun and shot Amelia a wide-eyed gaze.

"What?" Amelia asked, concerned.

"Well," Dorian offered, incredulous. "My family and I don't know all that much about you, either, Amelia."

"I guess if we're going to continue to pass ourselves off as a couple, we have some more work to do," Amelia observed with a wry smile before cocking her head sideways. "But you said no more strategizing tonight."

"It isn't strategizing," Dorian considered. "It's getting to know one another." She smiled and sat down with Amelia. She was far from done strategizing, and had every intention of finding out who had really called Amelia. She decided to play the maternal card and see if it worked. "What do you do for fun? Play a musical instrument? Sports? What are you secretly good at? What defines you besides … your active involvement in the LGLA?" Dorian's eyes flashed as if she were entertained by the possibilities.

Amelia smiled – more to herself than Dorian. No one ever asked her that, and she never offered the information. "Old movies."

"Old movies?" Dorian repeated, intrigued. "How old?" She meant to imply their age difference.

Amelia clarified. "State of the Union, To Kill a Mockingbird, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner…. Classics that made people think."

Dorian grinned with approval.

"What about you?" Amelia asked.

Dorian wasn't sure what information to offer. "What do you want to know?"

"Tell me more about your daughters – the other two."

"Alright," she relented with a faint smile. She leaned over and pulled her discarded shoes closer.

"Cassie's father is Herb Callison?"

Dorian nodded in thought. Of course, it only made sense that Amelia knew who Herb was. "Yes – well, yes. David Renaldi is her biological father. He was an exceptional musician."

Amelia smiled, having just learned something unexpected about Dorian. "Your mother was a musician, too, right?"

Dorian's eyes flashed a distant and cold look in response to Amelia's observation as she made the sudden realization. "How did you know that?" She gaped a bit. "Did you read Mel's article?"

Amelia heard the tension in Dorian's voice and kept her own voice calm and casual. "You can learn a lot with a simple Llannet search," she shrugged.

"You know more than you're letting on." Dorian's tone was accusing as she pointed at Amelia.

"Only because it is my job to know these things," Amelia insisted.

"You knew all along who Mel was!" Dorian protested. When she got no reaction from Amelia, she calmed down a bit. "What else have you been learning about me?"

"Not much," Amelia shrugged. She didn't have to fake her concerned interest. "What about Adriana?" Amelia queried.

Dorian took a long, deep breath and let it out, eyeing Amelia. She offered the information with reluctance, trying to be cooperative and careful. "I'm very fortunate to have Adriana in my life. Not all mothers in my position are so lucky."

This time Amelia was sincere in her ignorance. "Why is that?"

Dorian hesitated to answer but knew it was in her best interest to be open and honest. "I gave her up … for totally unselfish reasons, believe it or not … but we found our way back into each other's lives." Her smile was sentimental, but she was not offering more information and was expecting Amelia to take what she had said for what it was worth.

Amelia remained silent for a moment as she appreciated the depth of what Dorian was sharing with her. "I bet there's a beautiful story there."

"Not really," Dorian half-groaned. "It's actually quite an ugly story … but it had a beautiful ending." She continued to smile, focusing on the good.

Amelia considered the significance. "Did the situation with Adriana influence your decision to adopt Langston?"

Dorian shook her head. "That was a different situation. Although … there is something to be said for a mother's instinct to protect children other than her own." She shrugged at Amelia with a faint smile. She wanted to change the subject while still seeming maternal and caring. "What about your family?"

"I have a sister."

Dorian took in the information. It was easy to identify with having a female sibling, but now she was very curious. "A sister? Is she all you have?"

"We have family in West Virginia." She noted that Dorian cocked her head to one side and answered the question before Dorian could ask it. "Our parents died in a train wreck several years ago."

Dorian was quiet and empathetic. "I'm sorry to hear that." So Amelia and Langston had something in common. Dorian again identified on a deep level, having believed for years that she, too, had lost both of her parents in a terrible accident. "You must be very close to your sister."

Amelia scoffed. "Not exactly." She met Dorian's vivid gaze. "Let's just say we have different philosophies about life and how to deal with it."

"I see." Dorian squinted at Amelia in thought for a moment and wanted to ask if Amelia and her sister resembled each other, but did not want to be insensitive while she held Amelia's trust, so she decided to change the subject again. "Can I ask you something a little more personal?"

The corner of Amelia's mouth curled up in a crooked grin, flattered at Dorian's curiosity. "Sure."

Now she could test just how far Amelia was willing to open up. Dorian was blunt. "What … did you always know you were a lesbian, or … did something happen?"

Amelia smirked, knowing the answer without thinking because she had answered it for herself so many times. "Actually, I never thought about it when I was younger, but I never could change the fact that I was just more drawn to women, and more comfortable being affectionate with them."

Dorian nodded, listening. "And intimate?"

Amelia blinked. "Doesn't that go without saying? But it wasn't just that. I've just always bonded with women easier – mentally, emotionally."

Dorian could appreciate that, and she wondered if the same were true for all women. She understood and identified better with females as well – at least on a platonic level. "So what made you...?" Dorian shrugged as she asked. "…Come out?"

Amelia wondered at the timing of the conversation for only a moment before offering her open answer. "When I was in college, one of our assignments was to research political events and propose a hypothetical bill based on a situation in a news story. I found an article about Arizona's controversy over recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and I took an interest in it. My professor put me in touch with an acquaintance in the state – a justice in the Arizona Supreme Court.

"Carla became a good friend and a great mentor to me, and I looked up to her. I actually held great affection for her … and one day she said to me, 'Martin Luther King Jr.'s intent was not to draw attention to our differences, but to ensure equal rights for all. He wanted everyone to see that it was okay to be a person of color, or a Jew, or an immigrant – that our differences are not what matters. But in order for others to see us as being equal to them, for them to accept us as people like them, we have to accept ourselves for who we are.' … She knew what she was saying to me, and what it would mean to me. And that … pretty much changed my life." She clarified. "For the better."

"Carla," Dorian wondered. Her mind turned to past events as it made the connection. "Carla … Hall?" Carla had lived in Llanview years ago before moving to Arizona.

"Oh," Amelia flinched, feeling a bit exposed. "You know her?" She knew Carla had lived in Llanview, and that Carla knew all about Dorian, but had not thought about how well Dorian might know Carla.

Dorian shifted in her seat. "Her husband, Ed, was on the ticket with Herb when he ran for governor. … Carla encouraged you to come out?"

"She taught me that it was okay to feel what I felt." Amelia examined Dorian as they shared a thoughtful pause.

Dorian eyed Amelia again. "Small world." She pondered whether Amelia knew other people that connected them by mere degrees of separation. The thought made her feel ill at ease for some reason. "I find it ironic that Carla would encourage you to be yourself considering that there was a point in her life when she wasn't." Carla was African American, but had passed herself off as white for a time.

Amelia was uncomfortable with the conversation. "She learned from her mistakes," she told Dorian, her voice revealing her uncertainty. "She just wanted to prevent my … not being honest … with myself."

Her eyes met Dorian's as she thought back on the phone conversation she'd just had, and they exchanged a silent look of guilt before Dorian defended herself.

"I suppose all great leaders have found themselves in the awkward position in which they had to sacrifice a bit of their personal integrity for the greater good." She tried to think of a good illustration. "Elected officials, for example, must represent the people who voted for them, even if their personal views are different than most."

Amelia acknowledged Dorian's conflict. "Or at least represent the people who supported their campaign, or might support it in the future."

Dorian nodded. Amelia understood.

"What's most important to you in the world, Dorian?" Amelia asked, anticipating the answer.

Dorian didn't even have to consider. "My family."

Amelia dipped her head. "Well – the LGLA – they are my family," Amelia explained. "When I figured out who I was – what was important to me – it was like I had finally found my place in the world – where I belonged." She lowered her chin at Dorian. "You said you were entrusting me with your family. Well … I'm entrusting you with mine." She kept her gaze fixed on the other woman.

Dorian returned the steady gaze, recognizing the severity and depth of what Amelia was telling her. Dorian could identify. There had been a time or two in her life when she had felt as if she had no family, either, whether true or not. She understood the need to feel a sense of place and to feel important. In a way, she felt that now, and had the urge to explain that need to Amelia in return.

Amelia was gentle as she continued. "That's why it is so imperative that you see this through, and we handle this well."

Dorian shifted in her seat and leaned toward Amelia. "Do you know why I decided to run for mayor?" She lifted an eyebrow, as if alluding to a big secret.

"Is it just to keep Viki out of office?" Amelia accused. "Is that why you were so eager to jump on the gay and lesbian bandwagon?"

"Of course not," Dorian defended before she had time to think about her answer.

Amelia wasn't convinced. "You knew the LGLA was shopping for a gay-rights candidate. You barely looked at my resume … and you didn't even interview me. You hired me because I told you I was gay. You knew the LGLA was poised to endorse Viki."

"Amelia…" Dorian protested, "…That is beside the point."

"I just can't help but feel like you're trying to pull back … like maybe you're trying to pick and choose just how far you're willing to go to win this. Like maybe it isn't as important to you as you let on."

Dorian squinted. Amelia was right. An awkward pause lingered between them as Dorian took care with her words. "You're right. Some things are more important to me than others, and … I'm just trying to get my priorities in this campaign in a line." She grabbed Amelia's hand to emphasize her sincerity. "But this isn't about Viki," she insisted. "I had my reasons for running for mayor."

"What were they?" Amelia asked, concerned. "Before the whole equal rights agenda came up? What was your motivation?"

Dorian released Amelia as she sighed and stood, retrieving her drink from the desk. "Honestly…." She turned back to Amelia once she had grasped her glass. She was frustrated with her own admission. "It was for my own personal satisfaction, okay? For … redemption. Power."

"Redemption?" Amelia wondered.

"Because I was Mayor Lowell's campaign manager. Because he would not support my becoming chief of staff at the hospital - which, by the way, I still plan to do at some point." She nodded to herself. "Especially now that Mayor Lowell is decommissioned and I no longer need his backing." She carried her drink back to her seat. "Because I threw my support and influence behind that … jackass … and people, including my own nieces, were nearly killed because of it."

Amelia pondered. "Okay. The redemption part I understand. What about the power? You seem to have plenty of power, money … influence." She gestured at the room around her.

Dorian considered Amelia for a long moment, her mouth somewhat agape as she held her jaw open. "I think we're a lot alike, Amelia."

Amelia blinked at her. The statement was unexpected. "How so?"

Dorian smiled at her own thoughts. "Because when we feel an injustice, we want to fight it – correct it. We're both ambitious. And we both know how to make ourselves valuable." She paused, then questioned. "Don't we?" She lifted an eyebrow at Amelia. "We want to be valuable. To have a presence in the world?" She chuckled. "How could it go on without us?"

Amelia looked Dorian in the eyes. She'd hit the nail right on the head. Amelia nodded understanding. She had positioned herself in Dorian's campaign with intent and purpose in order to make herself valuable not only to a possible future mayor, but also to the LGLA. In the same way, Dorian was running for mayor to make herself even more valuable to her town and peers. Still, she had to wonder. "How could you ever, possibly feel un-valuable, Dorian?"

Dorian lifted her chin with confidence and grinned, one eyebrow still higher than the other. "I know how valuable I am. Sometimes I just feel the need to … remind others of it. Particularly those who let me down." She squinted, her smile fading.

Amelia was still trying to learn more about Dorian. "Who let you down?" she whispered.

Dorian glanced at Amelia's pocket again. "Who was that on the phone?"

Amelia furrowed her brows, wondering if Dorian had heard more of the conversation than she had revealed. "What?"

"Oh, come on. We both know it wasn't Nick making sure the meeting went well."

Amelia didn't want to be another person to let Dorian down, and had to be honest. "It was Carla."

Dorian lifted her brows at Amelia. "Oh." She twisted her lips up for a moment before asking. "She doesn't support us?"

"She is pretty confident that you're not gay. She has a problem with that."

Dorian appreciated the irony. Amelia wanted support for their deception and wasn't getting it from Carla. Dorian wasn't even expecting support and was being encouraged by Blair. She had to crack a smile. "So do I."

Amelia grinned back for a moment before turning serious again. Despite not wanting to disappoint Dorian, she had suddenly remembered removing the record of a phone call from Dorian's phone earlier. Amelia wanted to assume that Ray Montez had been the one Dorian was referring to when she said that someone had let her down. She wanted to confirm that whatever Dorian wasn't saying wasn't a threat to their faux relationship. "I won't let you down, Dorian. Just please, don't let me down, either."

Dorian nodded back with a sad smile. "I think I'm going to turn in early. My headache isn't getting any better. But … feel free to stick around and take care of whatever you need to do."

"Of course," Amelia answered, concerned. "Just let me know if you need anything. See you in the morning?"

Dorian nodded at her. "Bright and early."

"I hope you feel better."

"Oh, I will," Dorian promised, exiting and disappearing up the stairs. As reassuring as their conversation had been – as much insight as it had given her – she still somehow felt nauseous.

The room fell silent and Amelia looked around when she heard a rustling sound coming from the terrace. It began to rain, the wind blowing leaves and drops against the panes in the doors.

It had turned out to be an intense night, full of intense thoughts, and the rain seemed like a comforting release. Reading Langston's article had confirmed to Amelia that she was in the right place, but until now, Dorian had not confirmed that herself. Now, between the phone call from her past mentor and Dorian's comparison of the two of them, Amelia longed to make herself invaluable to Dorian.

She didn't want to have to plan to go anywhere when the campaign ended, even if she provided Dorian with a way out. In fact, providing that out just might garner her Dorian's trust.

Dorian had left her shoes behind in the now-quiet room. For some reason Amelia felt compelled to pick one up and inspect it. It was beautiful, stylish, feminine, and made a statement about its owner's personality. She put the shoe back down where Dorian had left it.

So what if Dorian wasn't gay? Amelia had no doubt that she could win Dorian over – in a respectful way – and once she had sealed her position in Dorian's life and Dorian's office, she would be in an even better position to fight for equal rights than she was now. It all seemed so perfect. With newfound confidence, she gathered her things and headed out into the rain.

Upstairs, Dorian hung her clothes up in their neat and proper place, changed into her nightgown, and slipped into bed. With the light off, and the soft glow of her nightlight nearby, she lay on her back and stared at the ceiling with one hand on her forehead. She could hear the gentle weather playing on the roof and walls, like a song with only a few notes.

Who let you down?

She thought about Mel. She could still feel his presence so close to her – sometimes more than others – and when she couldn't see him or hear him it made their separation feel that much worse. She wondered if he was sitting at the edge of her bed. If so, he was being quiet and unseen tonight.

She found her mind straying, wondering about Ray - wondering if she had let him down even more than he had her - but she pushed him out of her mind and pondered David.

Why was David's timing always so … off? Somehow she couldn't help but think that Amelia was right about him, but she also felt she needed him close by. He was a contingent part of her life, and though she half expected him to disappear again at any moment, she did not want to lose him entirely. Plus, his friendship with Viki and his connection with the Buchanans could still be used to her own advantage.

She never thought about Clint much - the thought of him and Nora made her queasy. They were a positively incorrect couple, and it was sickening.

She wondered when was the last time Bo had visited Lindsay. For some reason, that reminded her that Carlotta was supporting Viki for mayor. Why did it feel so empty?

Who had let her down, indeed...

She tossed in the bed and clutched one of her pillows to her body. It wasn't her head that hurt as much as her heart.

[maikingsenseofit]

The Problem with Zvtara: Part 2

Continuing off of the last meta, let’s jump into the next analysis. Zuko through the lens of Katara.

The common Zvtara argument here (and I’m paraphrasing, I don’t remember the exact words but they all sound like this) is as follows:

Katara understood and cared about Zuko in a way that nobody else other than Iroh did. The empathy and understanding they display for each other simply cannot be replicated between them and any other character in the series, especially within the Gaang. They can only be themselves with each other and around everyone else they put up a mask or a facade.

Let’s go back to the pivotal Crossroads of Destiny moment. Once again I will emphasize that im not trying to diminish the power of this scene, the moment when two sworn enemies bond over their shared trauma. But just how well did Katara understand Zuko?

Upon seeing his scar, her immediate thought is to use spirit water to heal it. While this is an outstanding demonstration of kindness for someone she is not obliged to show it to, let’s remember that right before this Zuko says:

“It's okay. I used to think this scar marked me. The mark of the banished prince, cursed to chase the Avatar forever. But lately... I've realized that I'm free to determine my own destiny, even if I'll never be free of my mark.”

This. Right here. It is so important to understand. Zuko’s scar is so much more than a scar. It represents his trauma from his father, the trials and tribulations he faced to earn Ozai’s approval, and is a further reminder that he is the black sheep of the family both figuratively (a son who could never live up to his title, who could never bend like he was supposed to) and literally (the only member of a pristine royal family with an ugly brand on his face).

But his journey with Uncle Iroh in Ba Sing Se allows him to come to terms this trauma, or moreover this scar. It’s a reminder that we cannot escape our past or try to stifle it. We must embrace it and learn to accept it. It is only then that we are fully liberated from the shackles of our trauma and can fully determine our paths forward.

Katara’s offer to get rid of Zuko’s scar represents a regression of Zuko’s hard earned realization. He had just come to terms with his troubled past and accepts the ephemeral mark on his face. He even wears it with pride. He doesn’t try to hide his past or stifle his trauma, not anymore. It is an integral part of who he is. It is what makes Zuko, Zuko.He vocalizes this to Katara immediately before this. Katara however, fails to understand the significance and the journey behind this mark, largely in part because she wasn’t there to witness it. Her attempt to heal his scar falls flat in several ways, but one main reason is because just because something is healed physically, doesn’t mean it’s healed emotionally. But it’s important to consider something else here: Zuko never explicitly asks Katara or verbalizes a desire to get rid of his scar. Based on the earlier conversation, he’s finally gotten around to embracing it and welcoming the significance behind it. What Katara offers is in stark contrast to what he said. He allows her to touch his scar, but it is evident that she would never heal it. Why?

From Belen Edwards, despite the traumatic memories associated with his scar, Zuko never seems particularly ashamed of it. Throughout season 1, his hairstyle ensures that it's completely exposed, showing his identity to the world. In the second season, Zuko tells Katara that he's beginning to accept that he won't be rid of the scar.

And yet despite hearing the last part, Katara still offers a solution to Zuko to get rid of it.

This is where we see that the so called deep understanding and caring that Zuko and Katara held for each other is beginning to crack. Where is Katara’s deep and profound, soul-ular (get it, like cellular?) understanding of Zuko that no one else, other than Iroh, had of him? It begs us to ask if Iroh was in that room, given the journey he embarked on with his nephew both physically and emotionally, would he have encouraged Katara to get rid of this mark? The answer is obviously no. If there is a deep vulnerability and intimacy that they share with each other, and no one else, it does seem pointless given on both ends neither understands the full depth of the other’s situation. This is exemplified by Zuko immediately forgetting his entire interaction with Katara (but not His interaction with Aang interestingly) afterwards and still failing to understand why Katara was mad at him, even AFTER she explicitly tells him. And this is exemplified by Katara not fully acknowledging and understanding Zuko’s acceptance of his scar and offering a surface level solution that will never address the emotional significance and tribulations that come with it. Nothing against either of the characters by the way, and I need to emphasize that in bold font. I am simply observing their interactions and dispelling these “Word of God”-like claims.

Consider Zuko’s interactions with Mai. When he first sees her after years of banishment she gently his scar and touches in it not in an attempt to get rid of it, but because it is a part of Zuko. And when it comes to kissing Zuko, it means touching his scar, touching him in his entirety- including his physical and emotional marks. There’s a deliberate reason why the storyboard artists included Zuko’s scar in the scene. Because she’s known Zuko her whole life and was there when he first received it. Zuko and his scar are not two separate entities for her. They are one and the same.

She is able to reconcile that he not only the prince of the fire nation, tasked with the impossible, but also a broken kid who had a tumultuous background and never received enough love. Which is why after he divulges the root of her pain to her and their friends, she breaks free from her emotional, careless facade , makes herself vulnerable in front of Azula, to emphasize that she cares about him, despite his imperfections.

In a good faith interpretation, I must acquiesce that Mai has known Zuko for her entire life and Katara for far less than that. But to reiterate, this is to dispel the misconception that Katara knew and understood Zuko better than anybody in his life, ever, maybe except for Iroh, and that this was exemplified from their very first interaction as potential allies. And that is why they’re soulmates - because they had that instant connection and innate understanding. That is simply not true.

Now let’s dispel this other claim: that Katara was the only one that Zuko could ever open up to in the Gaang, and unlike his canonical love interest who shut him down. I’ve already went over this argument several times, but in case you need the reminder: Mai did not shut Zuko down when he was divulging the root of his pain and confusion at the Beach. She was genuinely curious and helped Zuko through his tumultuous time with Azula and Ty Lee, and reaffirmed her care for him at the end. She also did not shut Zuko down when he explains to her how the meeting with his father went. She was genuinely curious and provided to be a safe and effective sound board for him. She listens to him fully when he talks about he wasn’t himself, but rather the caricature of the perfect fire nation prince in the meeting. She did not shut him down out of boredom or because she was uncomfortable acknowledging his feelings. This represents character development after her first interaction(s) with Zuko, Azula, and Ty Lee. She gives Zuko the opportunity to open up about his decision to leave her in the boiling rock. She allows him to explain himself - Even if she didn’t completely understand how he wasn’t betraying his country, largely due to the years of indoctrination that the fire nation instills in every citizen. From @thethiefandtheairbender “Although Mai, understandably, disagrees, she still hears him out. She came here, ultimately, for a better explanation because she knows there must be one. She still debates and engages.” It is canonically and undeniably sourced that she allows Zuko to open up to her on multiple occasions, and he does. Yet all I see is Zvtara shippers, not all, use their first interaction to characterize Mai and her relationship with Zuko. Like we see in this very argument.

But outside of Mai, let’s address the claim that Katara was the only one that Zuko could ever open up to in the Gaang and that she had this deep understanding of him that no one else had. They bring up Katara asking Zuko what’s wrong when he’s about to meet Iroh again. What we see here is Katara asking a very simple and sweet question. She offers Zuko a word of encouragement. Both of these are very indicative of normal friendships and shows that on some level, she cares about him as a friend and a human. But there is no deeper or more intimate understanding or vibe to this. What’s she’s showing here is a common courtesy to ask what’s wrong and a standard note of encouragement. She knows, like the rest of the Gaang, that Zuko has tried very hard to redeem himself, that he doesn’t have any evil intentions, and that his uncle, more than anyone, will forgive him when he apologizes.

But isn’t this the exact same thing we see occur with Zuko and Toph? Zuko also opens up to Toph about his turmoil and guilt over betraying his uncle. She, like Katara,understands the depth of Zuko’s angst. And like a good friend and someone who is deeply insightful, she tells Zuko exactly what he needs to hear and makes him feel better. That his uncle is indeed proud of Zuko and he doesn’t have to do much else to earn his forgiveness.

Does this mean that Toph had a more intimate and deeper understanding of Zuko, when in reality in both instances, this is how you show affection and empathy for a friend? Does this make Toph the best romantic match for Zuko?

The last claim: but Katara was the first person to see Zuko’s capacity to change and she saw the good in him!

Actually, that was Aang. Aang was the first person to see the inherent good in Zuko, to understand that maybe his intentions weren’t all that evil and that he was confused, not an innately evil person.

From the Reddit:

And unlike with his interaction with Katara, Zuko actually remembers this one with Aang and even references it later.

And Zuko opens up to Aang completely and quite in depth in the Siege of the North. He talks to him at great length about how everything always came so easily to Azula and how he resents Aang because of this. It is here where Zuko first verbalized how confused, frustrated, and unloved he is. And although we don’t know if Aang heard him, one can assume he knows all this about Zuko by now, because he makes the deliberate decision to save Zuko and bring him along instead of letting him freeze to death (even though Aang wouldn’t let anyone go like that).

There’s this one other claim that Katara and Zuko are the only two characters to have parallel arcs that are marked by the same foundational events (the loss of their mothers) that enable them to have this deep intimate understanding of each other that no one else does. While Zuko’s loss of his mother (although she never dies, he just doesn’t know where she is) is an important part of Zuko’s life it does not define his entire arc. Nor does it for Katara.

Here’s what parallel arcs marked by the same foundational events actually looks like. From the Avatar wiki, this is a long one and complete credits to the author who wrote this!

Despite Aang being the clear protagonist and Zuko initially being the main antagonist, their stories were often paralleled in the narrative structure of the show. Flashbacks of the incidents that changed their respective lives forever, Aang being told that he was the Avatar and subsequently running away, and Zuko's Agni Kai against his father and subsequent scarring and loss of his honor, were shown side-by-side.[5] Their attempts to progress in their bending while impeded by psychological blocks were also shown side-by-side.[30] They were both marked men, with Aang having his arrow tattoos all over his body, while Zuko had a large scar on his left eye given to him by his father.[5] Scenes of Aang struggling to cope with an unexpected betrayal from an Earth Kingdom general morphed smoothly into Zuko facing a similar betrayal from his sister.[7] Aang was shown displaying the same frustration about the loss of his honor as Zuko, echoing the same frustration Zuko had been uttering for the first two seasons, "I need to redeem myself. I need my honor back."[11] Both Zuko and Aang found out about their interconnected fates, with Aang being the reincarnation of Avatar Roku and Zuko being Roku's direct descendant as Roku's granddaughter was Zuko's mother.[32] Both characters, at some point, stated that they were ready to face the Fire Lord. Aang intended to do battle with Ozai, while Zuko was ready to confront his father about his feelings and choices. During that confrontation, he announced his intention to join the Avatar and helped him defeat Fire Lord Ozai. Zuko's confrontation with his father was mirrored by Aang’s battle with Azula.

So there’s the deconstruction of the argument that Katara and Zuko understood each other in a way that nobody else ever did or could, that they could fully be themselves around each other and no one else, and that they had similar arcs defined by the same foundational event that no one else shared with them. In the earlier meta, we saw just how much Zuko really connected with Katara in the catacombs, by immediately forgetting her act of profound trust and never mentioning it again, only to be completely stupefied when she brought it up. He connects the anger she has with him with the loss of her mother, even though they aren’t that related. If it wasn’t for her voicing her displeasure in front of the entire group, he would have never sought to make amends with her personally. He redeemed himself in her eyes out of conditional necessity, not out of a deep care or love for her that people will staunchly claim they saw.

The only thing I can give to Zvtarians is the timeline. With Zuko and Katara, we had a very linear progression from when they were enemies, to allies, to friends - which coincides with the end of the Avatar show. But love, outside of fiction, is not linear. It is marred by disagreements and makeups, kisses and fights, that co-occur, not one after the other. Often times, we make up before all of our issues are resolved in it’s entirety. That’s why I stand behind Bryke’s decisions on the canon ships.

Until next time!

[maikingsenseofit]

The best anti Zvtara post I’ve seen so far. Just pointing out the blatant hypocrisy in these so called “good faith” arguments.