"Yeah, "The Beach" was definitely not one of their best moments. :/ I mean...to be fair they *are* both really socially awkward, but...*sighs* Yeah, a little uncomfortable. :/
I'll admit, as much as I adore Kataang, Aang's behavior towards (or regarding) Katara really bugged me sometimes. For example, in "The Ember Island Players" when he gets a little pissy about Zuko sitting next to Katara. Dude, it's just a seat! Calm down! (Although I guess to be fair, he *is* young. People can be a little crazy when they're young...*contemplative*)"
I actually never minded the Beach. I like the episode because you get to see the other sides of everyone involved. I think that's one of the greatest strenghts of the show: the only antagonist we have absolutely no sympathy for (IMO) is Ozai. Well Long Feng too, but not as much. We see the other side of every other one and it makes them more human. Thats what I like about the Beach. I get that they are both horribly awkward but I kind of get the feeling Zuko is really trying his hardest with her and know what he wants and isn't getting it. I also feel like Mai is in a very precarious position with him: if they stay together she's going to be a Princess of the Fire Nation and Fire Lady at some point. And I feel like it would be easy for her to slip into the staying silent in the corner part of her personality that she doesn't like and ultimately would be unhappy. I think what would be a good thing, if it were to ever be gone into is this: if you really want them together, show them each taking a break, coming back to each other a few years older, a little more life experience and then having a really adult talk of what a serious relationship between them would mean. Because every time I think about it I see them in this relationship thats made by young people who jumped into and regret each other for it. *ramble ramble ramble*
I wish Kataang was handled better. Its almost an after thought half the time and it seems rather forced on Katara's end of things. And Aang isn't that consistant either. Katara clearly wants to get into Jet's pants, practically planning their tree top wedding(why yes I have just rewatched Avatar Abridged) and he says nothing. He even seems to be encouraging her. And yet in the Fortuneteller he's all "I made you a necklace love me!" where she is all "I love you like Momo!" I just...the only time I really think both Katara and Aang are on the same page is The Headband where I do find them cute. Its like the only time I do sadly. I just wish it was more active if you’re going to have it be part of the story rather than a forced after thought. Hell even the last half of season 3 its forced: Aang wants Katara to do things she doesn’t want to do: she doesn’t want to let Zuko into the group and resents him (Zuko) for this where as Aang lets him in, begrudgingly, but still accepts him by the second episode, Katara doesn’t want to take the high road when offered the chance at revenge and Aang basically says she’s wrong for doing so but he’s taking the high road against her decision. I mean, what?! And EIP…yeah, “I’m confused” totally translates to “so kiss me!” Its always bugged me that, with that clash between the two of them, where they are clearly not getting along, is resolved by the end without any sort of words.
I only remember that in Bitter Work cause I'm rewatching the series with a few friends and we watched that episode this week end. Here's why: Toph gets to be Sifu Toph off the bat. Katara, who by the second time around teaching him she is a Master in her own right, never gets to be called that until she points it out to him. I know thats kind of a "oh well they are familiar so it doesn't matter" type thing but I think its unfair to her. She's worked hard by that point and Aang doesn't acknowledge it. Part of it could be that he is just 12 but he has the piece of mind to call Toph and Zuko Sifu but not Katara. It just bugs me.
My long ass rambles part 1
I'll admit, as much as I adore Kataang, Aang's behavior towards (or regarding) Katara really bugged me sometimes. For example, in "The Ember Island Players" when he gets a little pissy about Zuko sitting next to Katara. Dude, it's just a seat! Calm down! (Although I guess to be fair, he *is* young. People can be a little crazy when they're young...*contemplative*)"
I actually never minded the Beach. I like the episode because you get to see the other sides of everyone involved. I think that's one of the greatest strenghts of the show: the only antagonist we have absolutely no sympathy for (IMO) is Ozai. Well Long Feng too, but not as much. We see the other side of every other one and it makes them more human. Thats what I like about the Beach. I get that they are both horribly awkward but I kind of get the feeling Zuko is really trying his hardest with her and know what he wants and isn't getting it. I also feel like Mai is in a very precarious position with him: if they stay together she's going to be a Princess of the Fire Nation and Fire Lady at some point. And I feel like it would be easy for her to slip into the staying silent in the corner part of her personality that she doesn't like and ultimately would be unhappy. I think what would be a good thing, if it were to ever be gone into is this: if you really want them together, show them each taking a break, coming back to each other a few years older, a little more life experience and then having a really adult talk of what a serious relationship between them would mean. Because every time I think about it I see them in this relationship thats made by young people who jumped into and regret each other for it. *ramble ramble ramble*
I wish Kataang was handled better. Its almost an after thought half the time and it seems rather forced on Katara's end of things. And Aang isn't that consistant either. Katara clearly wants to get into Jet's pants, practically planning their tree top wedding(why yes I have just rewatched Avatar Abridged) and he says nothing. He even seems to be encouraging her. And yet in the Fortuneteller he's all "I made you a necklace love me!" where she is all "I love you like Momo!" I just...the only time I really think both Katara and Aang are on the same page is The Headband where I do find them cute. Its like the only time I do sadly. I just wish it was more active if you’re going to have it be part of the story rather than a forced after thought. Hell even the last half of season 3 its forced: Aang wants Katara to do things she doesn’t want to do: she doesn’t want to let Zuko into the group and resents him (Zuko) for this where as Aang lets him in, begrudgingly, but still accepts him by the second episode, Katara doesn’t want to take the high road when offered the chance at revenge and Aang basically says she’s wrong for doing so but he’s taking the high road against her decision. I mean, what?! And EIP…yeah, “I’m confused” totally translates to “so kiss me!” Its always bugged me that, with that clash between the two of them, where they are clearly not getting along, is resolved by the end without any sort of words.
I only remember that in Bitter Work cause I'm rewatching the series with a few friends and we watched that episode this week end. Here's why: Toph gets to be Sifu Toph off the bat. Katara, who by the second time around teaching him she is a Master in her own right, never gets to be called that until she points it out to him. I know thats kind of a "oh well they are familiar so it doesn't matter" type thing but I think its unfair to her. She's worked hard by that point and Aang doesn't acknowledge it. Part of it could be that he is just 12 but he has the piece of mind to call Toph and Zuko Sifu but not Katara. It just bugs me.