r/ZutaraNation

I really hope this doesn’t offend anyone. The Alta fandom needs to move on.

A lot of the discourse around Zutara lately, especially since the LA, has revolved around either baiting or whether it’ll become canon. I think the majority of us already know it won’t, and that’s never really been the point.

What I’ve noticed on this side of the fandom is that with every resurgence, whether it was the movie leak or any other one, puts us between a rock and a hard place. We’re constantly met with comparisons between fictional characters and real world atrocities, alongside an abnormal level of loathing for the ship’s sustained popularity for two decades.

It’s exhausting.

This ship is over twenty years old. At this point, anyone insisting that people only ship Zutara for some superficial reason, or whatever the latest accusation is being willfully ignorant and delusional. There are countless essays, videos, and analyses explaining why people ship and prefer Zutara.

Personally, I think it’s time for a different approach. Rather than constantly defending the ship against every accusation, we should simply stop engaging. Fandom spaces increasingly consume fiction through a moral lens, and as someone who reads a lot, I know so many whom authors have written deeply moving and radical stories they don’t stand for in real life. Anything can work in a story IF done right. But real life, that’s an entire different ball game. And frankly, people who are actually living under oppressive systems are far more concerned with the realities they face than with policing what fictional characters strangers enjoy.

I understand why the topic is so heated right now. But Kataang becoming canon over two decades ago didn’t end the ship wars, and I don’t think either ship becoming canon would magically resolve them now. I think we’ve reached a point of no return with the animosity people have toward each other over fictional characters.

I’d rather we enjoy the ship than endlessly justifying why we enjoy it. They aren’t interested in understanding.

What happened to the sun and the moon by thalia_june? I swear I was just reading it a few days ago and now it's gone and I can't find it. Anyone knows what happened?

Obviously, by making Kataang canon AGAIN, throws to trash all the moments Katara and Zuko had, because the narrative made sure to make the audience feel that they are romantic. We all are talking for weeks of how the Zutara parallels are far more deeper than Kataang's and how the narrative makes them look romantic and Kataang ( in my opinion) look like the bait.

By making Kataang canon again, will not only break our heart for a second time, which okay, won't kill us, cause we still have our fanon ship, but it will make Kataang feel undeserved.

S1 didn't have ANY hint of kataang becoming canon and s2, even though it made Aang have a crush on Katara, it made it seem SO TOXIC, that i felt like the writer is doing it on purpose. It was not only uncofortable to see, because the age gap makes it feel like that, like a little boy who has a crush on his friend's older sister for example, but they made Aang treat Katara so bad, that by the end, even Kataangers didn't like them together.

I've seen even videos that talk about it, and say that they didn't root for him any more. As a Zutara shipper, i expected at least from Netflix, to try and make it feel better than Zutara ( i said try, not that they would succeed) because sadly it is the canon ship, or at least better than the cartoon Kataang and for some reason....they made it feel worse.

Obivously the chemistry between Zuko and Katara alrady makes it impossible for Kataang to compete with them, but I never expected that they would make it toxic.

At the end of the day, even if Kataang becomes canon, it will not satisfy either part of the fans. And idk about you, but i refuse to accept that a ship that is CLEARLY PORTRAYED AS TOXIC by the narrative ( for a second time but still, here we dont have the cute moments that Aang and Katara used to have, even though i do not ship them) seems as well, far more worse in terms of the chemistry.

ZERO CHEMISTRY between the actors, they do not even touch the friendly vibes for me so much, and maybe that has to do with the actors, cause Toph and Aang had far more chemistry in their few scenes they had together this season, than ALL THE SCENES Kiawentiio and Gordon had for 2 years. Plus, because Gordon is so young, and we get the vibes of the younger boy having a crush on the older girl, here it feels so REAL compare to the animation, that makes it impossible for me as the viewer to even imagine that Aang's crush can be reciprocated.

The show leads towards Zutara that is 100% FROM THE NARRATIVE ALWAYS, by making Kataang a thing ( and Maiko but i have nothing to discuss about that, besides the fact that they did not really interact in s2) it will not only be infuriating for Zutara shippers but will make Kataangers ( most of them at least, the ones who ACTUALLY CARE for their ship and not just wanna see Aang making out with Katara) feel unsatisfied, because yes, their relationship will be endgame, but the show won't give any attention to it, and make it seem uniportant, cause between you and me?

Netflix doesn't give a DAMN about Kataang. They made sure to show it in both seasons.

I do believe that making Zutara canon, is far more better as a choice, because the path leads there since s1. Not just s2. We had many parallels between them in s1, that were not clear, but they were very similar, and zero kataang and then in s2 we had ACTUAL WRITING OF ROMANTIC MOMENTS between Katara and Zuko, even foreshadowing or hints that Netflix made sure to do a research for Zutara parallels, and ZERO KATAANG CHEMISTRY. Katara didn't like Aang like he did in s2, she did not even considering it as an option, and the Aang kept blaiming her for eveyrthing and thats it. Besides the forced moments they had that seemed 100% like the bait us Zutarians got in the cartoon, you know, with Katara and Zuko sitting next to each other? Oh, in the live action Katara needs to sit, let's make her sit next to Aang for 3 seconds. OH! The gaang has to go in pairs in the party, lets make Aang and Katara hold hands for...3 seconds.

Put aside what you're shipping and tell me with honesty, which ship here looks like its the real and the bait ? Because the narrative of the live action made me ship Zutara MORE THAN THE CARTOON. Because their moments here were CANONICALLY ROMANTIC. But Kataang's? They feel like a joke. Are they joking? They cannot make that ship canon and not Zutara. This is offensive. I've come to the point where I believe that the cartoon has done a better job in showing kataang than the live action and until this day, I always thought that cartoon kataang felt forced and had incest vibes. But the live action? Oh, they made it feel far more worse.

Idk, if i should feel better that Zutara gets the love it deserves and many people get us now, or feel worse because Netflix might go towards Kataang, when Kataang LOOKS LIKE THAT.

And yes, it was toxic in the cartoon, but at least there the fans of the ship had nice moments to even make them support the ship ( i used to ship it by the way) but now? In the live action? Canon Kataang? Its literally the ship that SHOULD NOT be canon.

Im curious to see if they will follow the canon material and make Katara and Aang fall apart AGAIN in s3, or not, and that is why they made them fight in s2.

saw someone else posting their fanfic so i'll put myself out there too lolol

if anyone's interested: i'm currently writing a slowburn fic where zuko and katara get married so she can become a permanent resident in the US, and they have to convince the government the relationship is real. still ongoing but ive had a massive burst of motivation lately and came back after a four month hiatus!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/78229821

https://archiveofourown.org/works/87927621

i do not have the words for how stomach-churningly anxious i am about even publishing this story, much less posting about it here, so i beg of you, if you hate it, just let it die in obscurity rather than say so to my face 😣

tbh i still have misgivings about the smut, and for awhile i was feeling like it didn't want to be written at all, so if you're satisfied by the end of the fluffy bits i strongly encourage you to just stop reading there. but if you like smut and you have low standards for the quality of said smut, enjoy 😂

https://preview.redd.it/0f6jutiuefbh1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e2a181818b57f9ae327420b5d309844c768fb437

(AU where Zuko and Katara are adults and Azula is a teen.)

“You don’t mean that.” Zuko said offhandedly, to which Katara groaned.

“Yeah… I don’t…” Katara got off the couch. “You’re Fire lord and you gave her a second chance for a reason, but I still think we’re in way over our heads.”

“She’s a kid who doesn’t even know what right and wrong is. She deserves someone to help her… like you helped me…” Zuko smirked as he hugged Katara around the waist.

The water bender rolled her eyes and kissed Zuko. “You… were a different story… you always had some form of good in you… you just needed a lot of help.”

“And so does Azula.”

“…Let’s just have dinner.”

——

Aang could have taken away Azula’s bending, but they wanted to try and treat Azula like she wasn’t a criminal.

But, with all three of them sitting at the table, it was still pretty tense. “Zuko, you made this pretty well.” Katara complimented, only for Azula to grab the plate and throw the food at them. She used the distraction to attack both of them.

Zuko didn't flinch at that. He calmed down the flames while Katara trapped Azula in water "...Guess I didn't make it that good."

___

Katara sat next to Azula in the room they had made for her. "... You're looking awful."

"Shut up."

"Okay, so you can talk." Katara said with an eye roll. "You have to eat if you don't wanna starve." Katara looked at Azula, who kept silent. "...You know Oozai wasn't your parent, he was just the guy who happened to create you."

"...What's your point?"

"...All parents love their kids, even if they aren't that good at showing it. So I know your mom loved you."

"She thought I was a monster."

"She just didn't understand you." Katara said slowly. "...Besides, what's wrong with being a monster?"

Azula simply glared at her. "... You were raised like a peasant, praised for mediocrity. I don't expect you to understand me."

Katara nodded. “Yeah, that’s fair. Praising mediocrity in kids isn’t exactly conducive. Forcing them to be better in order to gain their attention allows them to develop faster. But at the same time, one of the worst things you can do to someone is make them feel like they aren’t enough.”

“Some people aren’t enough. Some people are better than everyone else. Others are just garbage.”

Katara figured she’d say something like that. “…You’re right. It’s a delicate balance. If you praise below average talents, that doesn’t lead to any progress. But if you don’t let people know they’re loved, they can work themselves raw and breakdown.”

The phrase ‘just like you’ went unsaid.

“Is it stupid to want to care for you even though you tried to kill us? Yes. Are you a jerk who hurt a lot of people? Yeah. But you’re also a kid who never got the fundamental levels of a childhood. Zuko and I don’t think it’s fair for you to be treated like a war criminal. He can redirect your lightning, and I can trap you with water bending. Lash out as many times as you want. I can’t promise we’ll be perfect, but I can promise we’ll care about you. Throw your tantrums, get your anger out, and we’ll see what happens.”

She placed a peach pear in front of her. “I know you’re not as bad as Oozai, so if you think that your only future is in a cell, you’re wrong. It won’t be easy, but you can still have a future. We’ll be here for you when you want it, but regardless you still need to eat.”

——-

Azula sat at the table with Katara and Zuko the next night. “…This food tastes like garbage.” She stood up and went to her room.

“…Progress.”

—-/—

“This is a stupid game.” Azula looked at the board game. “Just burn everything to ash.”

“No, that’s not the point of it.”

——-

“You’re joke, it’s funny.” Katara said with a smile. “Battleships getting pierced. It’s hilarious.”

Azula couldn’t help but grin a bit. “…Thanks.”

——

Many many years later…

“Mom, I’m heading out with my friends! I’ll be back later!” Azula said as she walked out the house, with Katara and Zukos mouths gaped open.

“…She called me mom before she called you dad.”

“It’s not a competition!”

“It is when I win!”

Honestly i didnt filly ship zutara before and I simply found it as a fun alternative to kataang, which I sort of found boring in the show. But i never sided with any ship up until I heard about the Bryke and zutara situation when ATLA finished airing and the two main writers took fanart made from teens and young adults at the time and made a whole meme of it in front of people in Comic-Con. then they said kids who ship zutara won’t have a good future love life? These are literally fans of your show, most of which being minors not even adults, and YOU baited this ship multiple times. The trailer for s3 is framed in such a way that makes it seem like they’re becoming canon, and don’t get me started with the end of s2 or the Agni Kai. Any show creator that actively insults or disrespects their fans is not a good writer, and honestly how they treat kataang and Zuko after the original show ended really shows how much hatred they have of zutara. How they treated zuko in the comics (mostly the promise) really felt personal, and seeing Katara turning into a 1 dimensional version of herself that’s only meant to keep kataang canon was horrible . she’s no longer herself. I dont even hate kataang, I just find it strange how the writers butchered Katara afterwards like she was only an airbender creation machine.

I don't know if I'm the only one who feels this way, but I actually think it's advantageous for Zutara to not be canon in the live action.

It sits in this odd space where the discussion around it has become almost as big as the ship itself. Instead of existing as a dynamic people are simply compelled by, it gets pulled into debates about narrative intent/interpretation, Kataang vs. Zutara discourse, or it's appeal and merits. Once a ship gets that kind of spotlight, it becomes difficult to simply say, "I think their dynamic is emotionally interesting, and I like it," without it turning into something bigger.

I feel like not being canon leaves room for people to continue engaging with Zutara for the original characters and the connection they share, rather than having the ship's reputation tied to the success or failure of an adaptation or to people's broader misgivings with it. That doesn't mean people will stop arguing about it or hating on it, but it avoids making one depiction of them the defining lens through which the pairing is viewed.

I just love these two, and I'm tired of seeing them flattened into arguments. I wish it were easier to appreciate why their connection resonates in the first place. Their dynamic remains compelling whether someone reads them as friends, potential romantic partners, or simply two characters with a uniquely rich bond.

I have my own criticisms with the live action, and I can't say that I like or enjoy it. But at the same time, I'm genuinely happy that it has helped some people rediscover or reconnect with this story and all it's characters. I like seeing people enjoy things even if it might be something that I don't like.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if the adaptation itself is divisive, tying Zutara's reputation to it could make the ship absorb criticism that isn't really about the relationship. I love Katara (she's my favorite character lol) and I love Zuko, and I love their connection in every form (platonic or romantic Idc)

For me, preserving some distance from the live action might actually leave more room for people to genuinely appreciate them without every conversation turning into another debate or reducing them to superficial readings. I feel like that's important. I'd much rather have space to talk about what we love in these two and their connection than constantly feel like we have to defend or argue for it.

I guess I'm just somewhat protective of this because It's just something I care about and meaningful to me. I think it's very important to build a healthy fandom space/community and I hope I can find that. I really tried my best to articulate my thoughts on this so I apologize if I don't make any sense. Does anyone else feel this way or similar? I feel kind of isolated on this.

Hi, I've been watching a lot of thoughts and opinions about the NATLA and I'm so lost, why does every Kataanger believes that Katara calming down Aang is extremely important for their story and extremely sweet and even romantic? I find it the most toxic and disturbing part about them. The pure pressure on Katara's shoulders knowing she's the only one to be able to calm down the embodiment of this godly creature that is supposed to guard peace and harmony... I think there could have been a golden middle where it does happen, but there'd be times where it's Sokka that calms him down or Toph. I would agree the NATLA lacks the deep bonds Gaang had in the original (I watched only 1st season and I felt like something's off about the characters and how they interact) but I'm absolutely flabbergasted to see all those adult people claiming that a 14 year old girl repeatedly calming down a 12 year old god-like boy that is about to destroy everything and everyone in it's way is cute and positive... My personal interpretation is that Katara decided to stay with Aang just to keep the peace honestly. I'm scared to watch the show, I heard there's some Zutara fan service, but I'm scared to get my heart broken if they decide to go with Kataang 😢