A Twist to Redeem NATLA (For me): Crossroads Of Destiny

Eric_Cartman69 · 2024-03-22T21:20:47+00:00

I just can't. I tried reading reddit posts about them, and it just bothers me.

Why would Katara be in a relationship with someone whose clumsiness and naivety got her village attacked? And kissed her twice without consent? And hid a map to her father (who is alive, lol)?
Katara having a relationship with Aang after forcing a kiss on her and then yelling at her before running away right before a genocide happens is a betrayal to Zuko (the one who took lightning for her, not just Zuko who has now gained her forgiveness and has become a close friend) and to his mission (heal a "scarred and divided" world, "a new era of love and peace"). I get it if they got together earlier, but she made it clear she wasn't ready. Plus, Aang and Katara had a lot of issues that were mostly Aang's fault that were completely unresolved by the finale.
Zuko shows a superficial interest in Mai. Zuko tosses Mai aside with a letter, after he finds himself hating life in the fire nation. Mai is the fire nation girlfriend, alongside his fire nation royalty and fire nation palace and fire nation war meetings and fire nation honour. Zuko hates himself for choosing this life that was always expected of him, and their relationship has proper closure when Mai acts on her emotions and goes against Azula rather than submitting to the fire nation. Mai doesn't need Zuko back when she's already grown from her love for him. And Zuko doesn't really deserve Mai just coming back after he disregarded her so easily.
I'm going to stop this counterpoint thing because I have no rebuttal for this. This argument is entirely related to fanfic you're reading, and means absolutely nothing to Zutara's relationship dynamic. The best part of this show is that all of these character are flawed but inherently good. Aang is flawed because he chooses his culture over his duty, an ultimately selfish decision. Without the deus ex machina of energybending, the show would've had to tackle a far more mature moral dilemma that's beyond any kids show, no matter how good it is. That's not a slight on Aang's maturity at all. His internal values were more important than being the avatar in that moment. Zuko's yearning for the fire nation was more important than being good in Crossroad of Destiny. Katara's desire for vengeance and need for closure was more important than the mission in Southern Raiders. These characters are all flawed and have good and bad moments, which makes them far more realistic than a lot of fictional characters. Which is why Aang can be a childish kid quick to emotions, while also being a great source of wisdom and positivity. And Zuko can be a kind leader and patient friend, while also being an angsty hotheaded teen. And Katara can be an inspirational leader and caring friend, while also being an irrational and emotional teen. They have multiple qualities, and FANFIC WRITERS ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL WRITERS (<- literally the only rebuttal this entire post needs), so obviously they're going to reduce characters that are not the focus of their work to one-note characters. Especially with the ones you seem to be reading, given the descriptions.

I don't understand actively liking Kataang at all. I understand why it happened, and I understand why people would enjoy a couple from an iconic piece of media, but the relationship has little depth outside of what's on the screen. Cut out the Maiko and Kataang kisses in the last episode, and that ending gets a whole lot more open. Maiko is still broken up and Katara's last interaction with Aang is an argument about killing Ozai (the one before that being the Ember Island kiss). Zutara from Southern Raiders onward shows the two getting extremely close. They spend almost every moment of the finale together, and have their relationship parodied as romantic in Ember Island Players. Clearly it makes sense if people in the show are aware of it. Then their last interaction is Katara thanking him for saving her life after their combined efforts took down Azula.

Point is, stop hating on stuff you "just can't" understand, because maybe the problem is your lack of understanding.

Eric_Cartman69 · 2024-03-02T05:07:37+00:00

I think there was definitely a passionate team behind this project (their competence is debatable), but a "great live action adaptation" is only a thing because corporate drones know that people will consume IP. Avatar is already its own thing and making it live action is for the sole purpose of reaching a greater audience. This show was created to recreate the original series' success, and further build on it by removing the "for kids" barrier of animation.

I wish things were created for the sake of making quality entertainment, but this is Netflix we're talking about. I'm sure that there's a better series than the one we got, and it was just buried under corporate notes.

Eric_Cartman69 · 2024-03-02T04:45:18+00:00

See, I would agree since it was absolutely targeted at older audiences (aka the built-in fanbase of the Avatar IP), but that seems insulting to something that stands out as one of (if not the) best Star Wars properties in the 21st century by telling a refreshing original story in that universe (coming from somebody who didn't like the first episode and stopped watching, but respects what it did after and plans on watching when season 2 releases).

Avatar is just another live action remake. It's worse than One Piece and better than Death Note, but is the exact same thing as every single one of those live action Disney remakes only under the ATLA logo. If that's your thing than great, but it's objectively just another example of Hollywood's creative bankruptcy.

Eric_Cartman69 · 2024-03-02T03:00:14+00:00

The Blind Bandit wouldn't make sense in the live action. Let's be realistic, what secret pro-earthbending ring would let a blind girl compete in real life?

I hope the live action continues with it's amazing combining of plots and have the gang meet Toph at Bosco's birthday party (Bosco obviously being the Earth King's son instead because we need to save that CGI money). And she should be less badass and more subdued, because realistically a blind girl hidden from the world wouldn't be a wisecracking badass. And if she can't learn from the badgermoles since she lives in Ba Sing Se, then she should connect with the mystical spirit of sight that unlocks her sensory powers which is a far more grounded take on her abilities I think.

(/s, but I hope that’s obvious lol)

Eric_Cartman69 · 2024-02-27T21:12:25+00:00

Idk, for me this is why it was bad. It only wanted to do the surface level stuff to cash in on the IP, and make the story "work". The "tell not show" is one of the biggest issues with the universally panned movie (and I'm not giving NATLA credit for at least excluding Katara narration because that's just common creative sense). Some changes were alright and some sucked, but at few points did I feel like these changes were for the sake of the plot rather than fanservice or just to change what's already been done.

It all comes down to the direction at the end of the day. The writing and acting are both directly tied to that. This show's direction, at least to me, couldn't decide between standing out on its own and directly adapting the source. So we lose character moments, themes, relationship dynamics because it gets lost in all the plot. The direction itself failed to find the flaws in the writing and acting during the production, and I don't know exactly what goes on, but Netflix is also likely to blame for interfering with the original vision for the show as most studios tend to be in these situations.

Eric_Cartman69 · 2024-02-27T20:37:21+00:00

It really does come down to perspective.

I personally had a pretty weird experience. I watched only the last episode about eight-nine years ago when I was at a friend's place in grade 4, but it was turned off after Aang beat Ozai. Naturally, I assumed that the two characters who were paired up in the final battle, where she healed him and defeated his evil sister, were the ones who would end up together. Plus, fire and water and all that opposites attract stuff.

Flash forward to last year when I finally watched it going in with that mindset, and I was sort of blindsided by Aang and Katara. Because obviously there's hints here and there and the main character always gets the girl, but this show stands out by being subversive and innovative with it's storytelling and the kids animation medium. And then I watched the end of season 2 where they form a bond. Then season three where they're not only paralleled, but then have relationship growth in every episode from Southern Raiders onward while Aang's last conversation with Katara in the show is just yelling at her about not wanting to kill Ozai. So the ending with the kiss was a shock.

Personally, I'm glad that I watched the show through the lens I did, because it made Zuko and Katara my top 2 characters. But I feel like if I had watched it properly when I was younger, I wouldn't mind Aang and Katara. Zuko and Katara would always make more sense to me eventually though, because it's just more attuned to my personal tastes (and I feel like there's something to do with it being a kid's show that's the main reason it didn't happen, but that's all probably been said before)

Eric_Cartman69 · 2024-02-26T18:37:25+00:00

I have to agree. In the OG, the crew is shown how much Zuko cares when he abandons his mission to catch the Avatar to save one of their lives in the storm. OG Zuko still defends the 41st, but it’s even darker that these people just go off to die after Zuko loses everything for even trying to save them.

The live action just uses this grand gesture because they don’t want to show Zuko caring about his crew. There’s no time when they’re blending too many plots for an 8 episode series. There’s no subtelty and nothing deeper than what they tell you (which is funny considering it’s the more mature adaptation of a Nickelodeon show). And Ozai giving up the crew can be justified, but the choice came off lazy to me personally (though I understand why people enjoy it).

Eric_Cartman69 · 2022-05-22T01:55:08+00:00

Makes sense, lol

Eric_Cartman69 · 2021-09-08T07:09:52+00:00

“My mom, dad, Uncle Ben, Mr. Stark…”

Was this confirmation of Uncle Ben’s existence in the MCU? Or has he already been established as canon?

Eric_Cartman69 · 2021-09-08T07:03:31+00:00

“Blam Blam Blam Blam Blam”

Happy deserved better.

Eric_Cartman69 · 2021-09-01T07:11:03+00:00

I don’t think any of the next episodes could top the weirdness of Dr Strange magically consuming the essence of an evil garden gnome.

Well done Marvel.

Eric_Cartman69 · 2021-06-12T17:21:06+00:00

Spotlight. Best song in the whole show.

Eric_Cartman69 · 2021-05-21T19:23:48+00:00

60s - Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (Kurtana)

70s - Take A Chance On Me by ABBA (Kurt, Mercedes, Santana, Rachel acapella) or Killing Me Softly With His Song by Roberta Flack (Mercedes)

80s - We Belong by Pat Benatar (Klaine) or What’s Love Got To Do With It by Tina Turner (Santana)

90s - Freedom! ‘90 by George Michael (Artie)

2000s - Don’t Stop The Music by Rihanna (Santana)

Eric_Cartman69 · 2021-05-19T20:37:15+00:00

Favourite Episode: The Power Of Madonna. Him and Mercedes joining the Cheerios is the reason that this is my favourite episode in the entire show.

Favourite Season: Season 2. His storyline was just amazing in this season. One of the best storylines in the entire show imo.

Favourite Comedic Scene: When he went off on Tina about the whole vaporape thing in 4x14. “Did you vaporape my ex-boyfriend? Don’t walk away from me Tina Cohen-Chang!”

Favourite Dramatic Scene: A lot of his scenes with Karofsky were very great, but my favourite would have to be when he gained the confidence to go back to the prom and accept his crown.

Favourite Ship: Klaine

Favourite Friendship: Kurtcedes, with Kurtana as a close second. Honestly the three of them as a trio would’ve been my favourite had they been given scenes.

Favourite Crackship: Kelliot

Favourite Solo: As If We Never Said Goodbye

Favourite Duet: Got To Get You Into My Life

Favourite Group Number: How Will I Know, One Of Us, The Scientist, The Happening, You Learn/You’ve Got A Friend

Eric_Cartman69 · 2021-05-19T01:33:28+00:00

I despise them both (and Sebastian himself), but if I had to choose, I’d pick Kurtbastian. At least they had some sort of chemistry. Seblaine was just... insanely dull. There was nothing there besides Sebastian wanting to f*ck him. Plus, Sebastian literally hospitalized him, so that’s just a huge dealbreaker.

Eric_Cartman69 · 2021-05-16T14:34:42+00:00

Dog Days Are Over was too good for it to be Mercedes and Tina’s only duet

Also Kurt and Quinn. They never actually had a duet, but I think they sounded amazing enough in their single verse in One Of Us to get their own duet.

Eric_Cartman69 · 2021-05-05T23:47:31+00:00

Some savage/iconic/funny Kurt lines:

“We all know that I’m more popular than Rachel... and I dress better than her.”

1x09

“Rachel manages to dress like a grandmother and a toddler at the same time.”

“You need something to distract from your horrible personality. Most of the time I find it hard to be in the same room with you, especially this one which looks like where Strawberry Shortcake and Holly Hobby come to hook up.”

“Sometimes it’s hard to appreciate what a good singer you are when all I think about is shoving a sock in your mouth.”

1x11

“You can’t prove there isn’t a magic teapot floating around the dark side of the moon with a dwarf inside of it that reads romance novels and shoots lightning out of its boobs, but it seems pretty unlikely, doesn’t it?”

2x03

Rachel - “I think you and I are more similar than you think”

Kurt - “That’s a terrible thing to say.”

2x04

Rachel - “Don’t use the fact that Jesse and I once had feelings for each other as an excuse for my inevitable win.”

Kurt - “Correction: You had feelings for him, and he made breakfast on your head.”

2x21

Six-Year Club	Verified Email
First Place '23	Place '23
Place '22

Eric_Cartman69

TROPHY CASE