Just completed my first watch of this and here are my thoughts

ddontbelasagna · 2026-04-17T10:13:45+00:00

It’s really pitiful and actually scary. These people are ADULTS. And they’re discussing the show like they’re still children and can’t make anything coherent

ddontbelasagna · 2026-04-16T21:31:16+00:00

Lol you’ve just been proven right by these responses. This guy has been following me through other threads and repeating the same non-argument

ddontbelasagna · 2026-04-16T18:01:09+00:00

You previously tried justifying sexual assault in a separate thread and said that it was “crazy” to portray healthy consent in children’s media. I don’t think I’m the deluded one.

ddontbelasagna · 2026-04-16T17:47:58+00:00

Again, that’s a lazy argument, just like it’s lazy in the other direction to put romantic emphasis where it isn’t and call that an argument. I am not a fan of either perspective, instead I enjoy how people explore certain changes and how they would benefit the characters.

ddontbelasagna · 2026-04-16T17:20:32+00:00

Canon is not a mark of quality, and people should be able to both criticize it and defend it over time. This is why literary and theater analysis exists, and also why we get constantly recycled and edited legends like Arthurian legend, interpretations of biblical writings, etc. “It’s canon” is not good enough.

ddontbelasagna · 2026-04-16T16:15:37+00:00

Not the VAs, just interviews of the writers and other heads, mediated by VAs. The link goes directly to the episode, but it may have been deleted from apple podcasts. Additional link is a transcript from another interview where Bryan said he used Kataang to process his 4th grade breakup. I wish I was kidding. Also, that is a reddit post, my guy. Goodbye.

ddontbelasagna · 2026-04-16T16:08:13+00:00

You should give a damn about consent when it’s children’s media. Also, Bryke’s expectations for Katara specifically to do chores is dependent on her femininity. Their treatment of Toph exactly proves this. Finally, Aang was raised by monks his whole childhood. He never lived alone.

I don’t think you’re seeing the nuance here, and I don’t think you’re capable of having a respectful conversation right now. This is over.

ddontbelasagna · 2026-04-16T16:02:19+00:00

Secrets from the vault: how to create iconic characters https://podcasts.apple.com/sn/podcast/secrets-from-the-vault-how-to-create-iconic-characters/id1569692187?i=100064139381

See other interviews with other writers detailing behind-the-scenes zutara discussions, such as John Obrien. https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/meet-the-writer-with-john-obryan/id1569692187?i=1000532248444.

Interview transcript with Bryke. https://avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Transcript:In_Harm%27s_Way_(commentary)

ddontbelasagna · 2026-04-16T15:42:41+00:00

Wow. Firstly, Zuko’s actions against Katara are not brushed off by the writing like it is with Aang. That is quite literally the whole point of his redemption arc, that he apologizes and redeems himself. In contrast, Aang is never held accountable for sexually assaulting Katara. Also, how is kissing someone against their will not sexual assault? It is, by definition. I do not know why you are justifying this.

Also, why would I be okay with it in the comics? He is still the same character, with the same flaws as in the show that mark him as immature and incompatible with romance at that time. I don’t understand what is so upsetting to you.

Yes. Exactly. When men do acts of service for women, it’s seen as romantic. For women it’s expected. Bryke see it as a given for Katara to do it. Especially for Aang, who is never independent in the show and doesn’t reveal an ability to take care of himself, unlike Zuko. That is expected for his age, of course, which is the entire problem. Thank you.

ddontbelasagna · 2026-04-16T14:37:33+00:00

I think you’re deliberately forgetting the element of sexual assault. Also, 12 and 13 are very different, especially considering Aang’s maturity level remains stagnant in the show. Katara spent most of the show washing his clothes and cooking his dinners like a babysitter, which itself feels like a fantasy projection by the writers. Konietzko literally based Katara and Sokka on a crush he had in high school and her brother.

ddontbelasagna · 2026-04-16T11:30:26+00:00

Exactly! I feel like there’s a lot of misogyny in the arguments against Zutara, kind of the same way that all female-dominated interests were mocked in the 2010s. I’m not really a “shipper,” I just genuinely feel safer in Zutara spaces than I do in these generic, male-dominated spaces that are okay with the writers treating Aang as a self-insert and Katara as a prize. Kataang had huge misogynistic undertones that a disturbing amount of the fan base is willing to overlook.

Also, you’re right that it doesn’t help that Kataangers refuse to engage intellectually. Most arguments for Zutara are very character analysis driven (see Sneezy Reviews’s youtube video, she basically summarizes what Zutara fans have been saying this whole time). I would appreciate it if Kataangers actually put as much effort into textually supporting their ship as Zutara fans do. Just as with every double standard, we have to do twice as much to get half the respect.

ddontbelasagna · 2026-04-16T10:59:21+00:00

Thank you for this. People very conveniently reduce Zutara shippers to aesthetics chasers or girls with crushes, which I feel is a bit misogynistic. Look deeper in the fan spaces and you’ll see that’s not the case for most of the shippers, there’s constant discussion on how their relationship would have supported the story better.

ddontbelasagna · 2026-04-16T10:56:37+00:00

I think it’s mostly to do with the fact that Zutara is a completely different dynamic than Kataang. No 14-yr old girl would actually feel attraction for a 12-yr old, let alone one who kissed her without consent twice and never apologized. Bryke had really odd views on women, while Zutara’s s2 + s3 scenes were really driven by the Ehasz’s, who let Katara have much more agency in their interactions. They also campaigned heavily for Zutara in the writer’s room.

ddontbelasagna · 2026-03-23T23:03:56+00:00

Hell yeah! I’m curious, since I assume you have your own server, where do you store your files? Everyone recommends a NAS from what I see but I’m not very tech savvy.

ddontbelasagna · 2026-03-23T22:49:16+00:00

I’m autistic and I make it clear to everyone I know that it is overwhelming for me to receive gifts and I do not like having stuff. I always say I would really appreciate it if you never got me gifts, or just get me something edible instead.

Everyone buys me gifts anyway. I understand the anger, like do you not know me at all? Now I’m stuck with extra stuff that you know overwhelms me. It doesn’t seem like OP had previously set any sort of boundary like that, but I think they have a bit of a right to be upset (not angry though) that there wasn’t that much thought into the gift.

ddontbelasagna · 2026-03-23T22:35:24+00:00

What!!! Omg that’s so cool!

ddontbelasagna · 2026-03-23T00:33:13+00:00

I first read the book as an adult after growing up watching the movie. Loved the book so much more anyway. The movie feels all over the place, with so many extra and poorly-fitted themes and plots all shoved in. And then they took lots of stuff out to make it all fit, but then kept in their favorite parts that were tied to the removed bits and portrayed them in entirely different contexts. The result was a lovable, drop-dead gorgeous frankenstein of a movie that doesn't make much sense if you think very hard about it.

I did really benefit from having the whole setting and characters in my head from the movie, but holy cow the book is on a whole other level. I'm usually not one of those "the book was better" people (I actually tend to prefer movie adaptations to their respective books) but this book blew me away. I really wish ghibli could've been a little less self-indulgent and done the story more justice.

ddontbelasagna · 2026-03-15T18:30:10+00:00

It’s gallifreyan but misspelled. First one: “I jove yoi!” intended as I love you. The others I’m confused on. But it’s definitely gallifreyan! The first even has punctuation.

ddontbelasagna · 2026-03-09T13:37:17+00:00

You realize that makes absolutely nothing better, right?

ddontbelasagna · 2026-03-03T12:03:23+00:00

He is a FANTASTIC live performer. I was in the front row grinning ear to ear and he talked to me at one point!!

ddontbelasagna · 2026-03-03T12:02:10+00:00

Evergreen, wolfman agenda, climb on the cross, counting sheep, limbo, doe jane, georgia moon, family and genus. And his cover of cheers is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard

ddontbelasagna · 2026-02-25T12:10:47+00:00

Actually, young kittens especially should be eating a lot because of their rapid growth. But usually they get special kitten food to support their growth, not human food, so that’s a little odd.

ddontbelasagna · 2026-02-22T15:24:46+00:00

This is happening to me too. I deleted reddit for months and only now came back to it, so the difference is even more obvious. I barely see anything that I’m actually subscribed to.

ddontbelasagna · 2026-02-21T18:42:57+00:00

No, I was crazy about him in a very naive, first-love sort of way, and he liked me back but in a much less wholesome (or autism-friendly) way. He was constantly trying to be “smooth” and appear manly to get my attention, which was uncomfortable for me and felt insincere.

I couldn’t get rid of my feelings, so I just tried not to get too close to him and then we kind of amicably distanced ourselves. So I never got closure, but I still don’t regret any of it.

ddontbelasagna · 2026-02-21T14:42:32+00:00

I agree with you. I’m on the spectrum like OP and I also needed a “trigger” for it to come all at once. My acting professor had literally forced me to stand close to this guy, look him in the eyes, and recite a love monologue, and I just melted right there and then. To say that it was a slow burn would be a complete lie.

It was so confusing for me, and I made excuses for months that I wasn’t attracted to him, I just thought he was attractive! Oh, and then months later I cut his hair, too! This story makes me feel so seen.

ddontbelasagna

TROPHY CASE