ladyofleithian (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ladyofleithian) wrote2011-03-28 12:33 pm
ladyofleithian) wrote2011-03-28 12:33 pm
Entry tags:
"If my LJ Friends Poked Around In My Brain, They'd Probably Find A Lot Of Rubbish".
Just to cheer myself up after seeing...that movie, I decided to post a little snippet of some notes I took during a non-Internet break. ^__^
-Only change dialogue around if you have a decent enough reason for it (mostly to aid characterization). Probably where Steve Kloves fell flat in giving Ron’s line to Hermione.
+ Katara’s lines to Aang: It serves no purpose other than making it a complete sausage fest.
• Just eliminate “Imprisoned” entirely. It serves no purpose to the plot; it’s a good sidequest, but it’s not…relevant.
+ Emphasize the growing friendship between the characters. One of the flaws of The Last Airbender was that you didn’t feel that Aang, Katara and Sokka were the Nakama they were in the series. There was no reason to care about them at all, other than being told we should. (And there is the ultimate downfall of The Last Airbender: it’s all tell, no show)
+ Add humor. It’s not a crime, you know. And it allowed you to get to know the characters better in the original animated series.
+ Sometimes understatement works best. Don’t have Yue and Sokka’s farewell be all contrived; have it be quiet, gentle, tender. And build up some character interaction so that we care when Yue dies.
+ Emphasize the relationships between Sokka and Katara, Hakoda, Sokka and Katara, Haru and his father, Zuko and Iroh, Aang and Gyatso and even Azula and Ozai. Especially Azula and Ozai. Even darkness has a heart, after all.
+ Preserve the essence of the characters – especially your female characters.
• Keep their moments of awesome: Yue willingly sacrificing herself for her people. Katara holding her own against Pakku and Zuko, respectively. Yet make Zuko just as powerful to build the tension. Have moments when it looks like Katara’s going to lose.
• Keep the rules intact: Zuko’s firebending comes from the sun, Katara’s from the full moon. Zuko may not be able to be at his peak under the full moon, but at the very least, have him taunt Katara to throw her off balance and very nearly get some shots in at her.
• Have Katara confide in Aang about wanting to be a Waterbender like her mother, but being unable to because “there aren’t many Waterbenders in the South Pole”.
• In the South Pole, women being allowed to fight. In the North Pole…not so much. Yue feeling the brunt of this, and feeling trapped and restricted – sometimes hating Arnook, her father, at times.
• Show Azula’s icy competence at first, before slowly easing into her more vulnerable side. At her core, she’s really a lost, scared little girl who’s been made into a Tyke Bomb by her father.
• Accentuate Meng’s crush on Aang a little more. Have Aang gently brush her off with “I really like you, Meng, but I don’t like like you.” Have them be close friends, and Meng even showing up to help during the invasion…but no more.
• Aang and Meng occasionally having chats when Aunt Wu’s on a break and Meng doesn’t need to help her out. Meng joking about Aang having a crush on Katara, and Aang trying to brush it off. “She’s just a good friend.”
MENG (good-naturedly sarcastic): Feh. Good friend. And I’m the Queen of Ba Sing Se.
AND
Aang mostly keeping the truth under wraps to spare Katara discomfort – as well as Meng.
• Keep Suki’s strength as well. Have her try (and eventually succeed) at breaking out of the Boiling Rock. Have her embrace with Sokka be brief, before Sokka says, “Come on; let’s get out of here.”
• Have Iroh later tend to Suki’s wounds – and Suki eventually tell the others what happened with Azula. “She was…harsh.” And honestly, that’s all that needs to be said.
• Keep Yue’s strength as well as her restlessness and depression.
• Yue and Sokka – Beren and Luthien. An imperfect man falling in love with a (seemingly perfect) woman.
• Yue’s interactions with Hahn taking on a creepy edge – this is the twerp she’s going to marry. Shallow, misogynistic, et cetera et cetera. Her life being interrupted when Sokka and the others arrive – Sokka seeing Yue and becoming captivated by her.
• Suki speaking with Sokka about Yue – keep in mind that The Ember Island Players is going to be left out if only because it doesn’t really advance the plot. So it’s a bit tenderer, with Sokka speaking about Yue’s kindness and grace. “She would do anything for her people – and her people would do anything for her.”
• Use the pause in the firing (regarding Zhao attacking the Northern Water Tribe) for the other people in the tribe to start panicking/arguing amongst themselves, and Yue turning towards Katara and co., despairing that those in her tribe are fighting amongst themselves. “Take heart, Sokka. It will soon be over.”
+ Sokka then giving her words of encouragement so the war can thus be won.
• Later, of course, they slip away to the Spirit Oasis so Aang can get in contact with the Spirit World. Zuko, of course, crashes the party, yadda yadda yadda. Have Yue and Sokka try to fight back, but be defeated (seriously, where was Yue while the Zuko/Katara fight was going on?). Have Zuko chastise Katara for “dragging” Yue into this (due to her so-called “civilian” status), to which Yue replies, “I came of my own choice. Katara had nothing to do with this.”
• Zuko blaming Katara for this, one hundred percent. “You should not have dragged [Yue] into this.”
“You did that yourself.”
• Yue being A Mother To Her People, in a sense (something Arnook most likely taught her at a young age).
• The Team Mom aspect of Katara being given to Yue, if only to make the whole Kataang thing a little less…well, Oedipus Rex, Part Two.
• But it doesn’t mean that aspect of Katara should be removed entirely. Keep some of it – but mostly accentuate her naiveté, her vulnerability, et cetera. Gradually, she matures.
• Katara – kind, determined, brave, restless.
• Aang loving Katara for who she is – and Katara loving Aang for who he is. Aang treating her like an equal, not a prize to be won.
• Have Katara question it at one point: “Am I nothing more than a prize to you?”
• Where is Gran-Gran in terms of taking care of Katara and Sokka?
• She’s there, naturally, but sometimes, when the siblings have no one to rely on but each other, Katara tends to take over parenting. Sokka being immature at times, and Katara being the more grounded one – which carries over into the search for Appa.
• Katara’s breakdown to her father being where it’s revealed that the stress of him being away has really shaped her into the person she is today. Slowly healing over the course of “Book Three”.
• Azula being a dark mirror to Katara – who Katara could have turned into if she wasn’t careful. (I.e. a Villainous Breakdown) Azula, like Katara, being later revealed as a small, frightened little girl under the cold, icy, scary competent exterior she wears.
• Ozai trying to console Azula – in his way – after Mai and Ty Lee betray her. “Have faith, my daughter. In time, everyone will see it our way.”
“Our way…assuming the Avatar doesn’t decide to save them.”
“Or even if he does. Everything will turn out right.”
• Most likely leave out The Beach. It’s a great episode and everything, but it doesn’t have much to do with the plot in the long run. However, do allude to it at times – especially with Azula, Mai and Ty Lee’s insecurities.
• The others trying to help Azula heal – if only because Zuko, Aang and even Katara want her to.
• Emphasize Azula’s fear of not being good enough – especially in “Book Three”.
• Have the two siblings eventually reconcile in the end, with Azula sobbing into Zuko’s shoulder as Zuko merely rubs her back and reassures her that it’s going to be okay.
ZUKO: It’s over…it’s over. It’s going to be okay…it’s over.
• Azula’s surroundings eventually taking on a nightmarish design – at least, cut to certain details of her room (i.e. creepy ones) to build tension.
• Or leave The Beach in, if only to experiment with the lighter side of Azula.
• Emphasize Azula’s devastation when her father leaves her behind. Especially, later, her anxiety that he’ll be killed in battle – she can’t afford to lose another person she loves. Desire for power/arrogance/fear being her ultimate undoing, a la Citizen Kane.
• Ultimately going out with a bang – in her Agni Kai with Zuko.
+ Does she die?
Maybe she dies in Zuko’s arms, just to enhance the pathos. Ozai’s cruelty towards her leading to the ultimate reason to hate him.
• Dying in Zuko’s arms:
+ Instead of it being an Agni Kai, have it just be an all-out brawl. Both Zuko and Katara play their parts.
• Zuko going through the Five Stages of Grief after losing both Azula and Ozai, and eventually starts shouting at Mai before breaking down in her arms. She can only hug him and promise him that everything is going to be okay.
• Azula beginning to hallucinate in the weeks leading up to her death/defeat.
• “But…I was perfect…”
+ Azula’s possible last words.
• Build up the Maiko a little more. Have Mai occasionally sneak yearning looks at Zuko, as well as murmuring to Ty Lee, in wonder, “He must be a man by now!” Also confiding a bit in Ty Lee about wondering if it was the right thing for Azula to do, to drag them out here.
• But don’t let it compromise Mai’s character. Have her still be cool and snarky – but give her some humanity too.
• First time we see Mai, she’s mostly…well, bored. Look at “Return to Omashu” to give her something…suitably boring to do. XD
• Have her joke around with Zuko a few times. In a way, she’s the only one who’s made him happy, when not even Iroh or Katara could.
• Show Mai’s bravery, especially at the Boiling Rock.
• Keep Mai competent.
• Have Zuko later confide in her about his insecurities, and have her reassure him with, “You’re good enough”, basically.
• Mai and Ty Lee defying Azula if only because they’re fed up with her bullshit. At least, Mai is. Ty Lee mostly steps in to save a friend, and they flee.
•
no subject
seriously, where was Yue while the Zuko/Katara fight was going on?
Getting Sokka. For some reason Sokka was on the front lines as opposed to protecting Yue's body or whatever(or possibly asleep because it was night). So he wasn't there when Aang, Yue, and Katara were talking about Aang getting to the Spirit World.
Have Zuko later confide in her about his insecurities, and have her reassure him with, “You’re good enough”, basically.
My only problem with this is that he does try to do this in the series and Mai kind of blows him off. I'm not saying that you couldn't change it for the movie, I think that might actually be a better choice than in the show because it comes off horribly at times. What you can also add is Zuko actually feeling worse about breaking-up with Mai to begin with and trying to give a better explination to her in the Boiling Rock. I really don't get how she really wants to save him after he's effectively broken up with her again (not to mention the Beach "break-up"). Its like we're given this really strong character who falls apart over a boy who really hasn't treated her that well. And seems like he doesn't know her (let me give you a shell!...do you really not know me at all?).
I don't know about Azula breaking down in general, she seems to have had way more walls around her than that. She might cry alone at some point, but I don't see her openly breaking down to anyone, let alone Zuko. Unless they have a huge talk at some point where he actually reveals that Ursa did care for Azula, she just pushed her away every time she tried to show that (I have a sneaking suspicion this is what happened, mostly because of how Azula sees it). I can see Ozai comforting her in that way about Mai and Ty Lee though. She is his favorite and his legacy.
no subject
"Just a quick question, these are thoughts for a possible rewrite of the movie right? And like going all the way through? My general thought is that you have more of a six movie span with these than a three movie span: each season can even be seperated into two parts because of how they flow. First movie is introducing the world and then getting to know the big reveal with Avatar Roku at the Fire Temple. Then the next one is everything after that (with this you also get to keep a few more things that have purpose later: ie Suki and Jet who were cut from the original movie for time). Then they have to get to Ba Sing Se and because of the split you can introduce Azula, Mai, Ty Lee, and Toph much better because you have time. Also its a little easier to keep in Zuko's backstory if you introduce it via Azula remembering as opposed to just Zuko in the show. And the last half can be in Ba Sing Se. And season three has obvious stop points. But you get to keep in more than you would have to take out and it makes more sense in a way. You need Suki cause she plays an important role later in the series and you need Jet because how else do you find out the Dai Li are brainwashing people? I get it the Joo Dees are weird but that doesn't=OMG Long Feng is evil brainwashing! Its the personal relationship with Jet that makes them realize whats going on."
Ah. Gotcha. *Makes note to include Jet and Suki* :)
Seriously, I think Jet and Suki could have saved the live action movie, in a way. *End quixotic ramblings. XD*
"Getting Sokka. For some reason Sokka was on the front lines as opposed to protecting Yue's body or whatever(or possibly asleep because it was night). So he wasn't there when Aang, Yue, and Katara were talking about Aang getting to the Spirit World."
Oh. I see. *Facepalms a little* Maybe Sokka and Yue get separated on the way to the Oasis? Or maybe have Sokka there while Aang's in the Spirit World -- I just can't see him doing something like that...then again, maybe it's just me. ^__^
"My only problem with this is that he does try to do this in the series and Mai kind of blows him off. I'm not saying that you couldn't change it for the movie, I think that might actually be a better choice than in the show because it comes off horribly at times. What you can also add is Zuko actually feeling worse about breaking-up with Mai to begin with and trying to give a better explination to her in the Boiling Rock. I really don't get how she really wants to save him after he's effectively broken up with her again (not to mention the Beach "break-up"). Its like we're given this really strong character who falls apart over a boy who really hasn't treated her that well. And seems like he doesn't know her (let me give you a shell!...do you really not know me at all?)."
Awesome! :D
*Scribbles down notes*
"I don't know about Azula breaking down in general, she seems to have had way more walls around her than that. She might cry alone at some point, but I don't see her openly breaking down to anyone, let alone Zuko. Unless they have a huge talk at some point where he actually reveals that Ursa did care for Azula, she just pushed her away every time she tried to show that (I have a sneaking suspicion this is what happened, mostly because of how Azula sees it)."
*Jots down more notes*
"I can see Ozai comforting her in that way about Mai and Ty Lee though. She is his favorite and his legacy."
*This*. :)
Again, thanks. I'll definitely keep it in mind. :)
no subject
Its a weird moment in the show even. I'm not sure where he is at the time but he's definately not with them at all. Its just Aang, Yue, Katara and Momo in there. Like you wonder whats going on. All I can think of is that he was needed somewhere else at the time and was there. Or, since it was just Yue, Aang, and Katara talking about the Spirit Oasis they could have snuck off, effectively, without telling him thinking it would be safe (I could see this happening).
I just...I wish the show had done Zuko/Mai better. It seemed much more forced than it needed to be with what was given and every time Zuko tried to say something to her about what he was feeling she blows him off. Twice! And the second time its even after the Beach!
Also I like changing Aang and Katara from it being like she's a prize for him. It seems that way a lot in the show: he's saving the world and his reward is her. I don't like this idea at all and it kills me every time. I feel like the only good relationships in the show are the ones Sokka has with girls. He seems to be ok with Yue, a little awkward and such, but its cute. And with Suki its more, I guess, lasting. She's not a prize for him, she's his equal. Ok he has to learn this through pain but at least he gets it. It always gets me in Bitter Work when Katara mentions how she wished she could be called Sifu Katara by Aang when Toph gets it right off the bat.
Part of me also wishes the either age down or age up with Aang or Katara or just make them both 13 and a happy medium because it puts them on a little bit more of an even playing field maturity wise. Full thoughts of mine, if you must know, I feel like Katara turns 15 sometime after the Headband and before Day of Black Sun.
So many thoughts, so little time.
Quixotic Ramblings, part one
Ah, nostalgia. I remember looking at a picture of Jessica Jade Andres as Suki and thinking, "Holy shit, that's some really good casting!" (Probably one of the rare good moments of casting, really. YMMV. :) Well...once I got over the fact she looked like an Asian Jewel Staite. ^__^ (Seriously, look: http://i39.tinypic.com/2vuh40h.jpg)
"Its a weird moment in the show even. I'm not sure where he is at the time but he's definately not with them at all. Its just Aang, Yue, Katara and Momo in there. Like you wonder whats going on. All I can think of is that he was needed somewhere else at the time and was there. Or, since it was just Yue, Aang, and Katara talking about the Spirit Oasis they could have snuck off, effectively, without telling him thinking it would be safe (I could see this happening)."
For some reason, I can just picture the look on Sokka's face after he learns about what happened: basically, after having a bit of a "Chandler attack" at hearing about Katara being in danger (call it a big brother thing), before going off to help her out.
Re: Quixotic Ramblings, part two
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 feel like the only good relationships in the show are the ones Sokka has with girls. He seems to be ok with Yue, a little awkward and such, but its cute. And with Suki its more, I guess, lasting. She's not a prize for him, she's his equal. Ok he has to learn this through pain but at least he gets it."
*This*! :D
Seriously, that was really well said. ^__^
"It always gets me in Bitter Work when Katara mentions how she wished she could be called Sifu Katara by Aang when Toph gets it right off the bat."
*Doesn't really remember that part, if only because she mostly remembers Sokka being stuck in a hole. XD And Zuko's breakdown at the end. :(* How come it bugged you so much? :) *Is curious* :)
"Part of me also wishes the either age down or age up with Aang or Katara or just make them both 13 and a happy medium because it puts them on a little bit more of an even playing field maturity wise. Full thoughts of mine, if you must know, I feel like Katara turns 15 sometime after the Headband and before Day of Black Sun."
Yeah...that was another little thing about Kataang that bugged me too. She...might not be old enough to be his mother, but she's definitely old enough to be his...older sister, to say the least. :P
I was also thinking of bumping up Aang's age to sixteen or so, just on the cusp of adulthood, not only because of the...Kataang thing (YMMV), but also because there's more...at stake for Aang, emotionally.
Bryke mostly wrote Aang as twelve because most shows on Nickelodeon are usually aimed at small kids. (Correct me if I'm wrong. :) But bumping Aang's age definitely allows him more room for conflict...stuff like dating, and getting in schoolyard fights, yadda yadda yadda just has more impact when you're a teen, in a sense. And it adds a degree more tragedy, IMHO, to the whole...Gyatso thing. (A young man on the cusp of adulthood basically giving up a brilliant future vs. a young boy who mostly ran away from home because he didn't know better)
What do you think? :)
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.
My long ass rambles part 2
That’s what kills me! She acts so so much like their mother/older sister/the person that keeps them together that I don’t understand how he can see her in that way. I think I would find Kataang more appealing if it wasn’t even part of the series: they don’t get to have a relationship till later because then it’s a growth of best friends type thing.
“I was also thinking of bumping up Aang's age to sixteen or so, just on the cusp of adulthood, not only because of the...Kataang thing (YMMV), but also because there's more...at stake for Aang, emotionally. “
Hell I’d be ok with bumping down Katara’s age. You could even call 12 the cusp of adulthood if you wanted to but the fact that both of them are in such different places maturity wise gets to me a lot. Katara, for the most part, has been treating him like a little brother, only once that I can think of getting jealous. Whereas Aang gets jealous selectively: with Zuko, not Jet or, if you want to pull this one, Haru.
I think the show was pitched as a 12 year old Aang. Not just to Nickelodeon but in general. Though, as we see, ages are arbitrary in the series. I don’t think anywhere in the actual series is it mentioned that Zuko is older than Azula. You just assume because he was/is the Crown Prince and she’s just the Princess (the Fire Nation seems to have the most equal society with women serving in the military and such). Azula is 14 the same age as Katara. I just…what?! Zuko, Aang, and Yue get official ages. No one else does. I have no idea how old Suki is and Sokka is 15. Mai was an only child for 15 years and Tom Tom is “toddler before speaking” age. You can’t even pin down her age because I doubt Tom Tom is supposed to be two. If he is…well then he’s special. Ty Lee is a shot in the dark and what the hell is the age difference between Iroh and Ozai?! Its like they picked ages for some and then just said “yes, this one is a lot older than this one…DRAW IT THAT WAY!”
I do fully admit as an adendum that I like the idea of Zutara a lot more in the series than anything else but there is a weird way how it happened: I watch all of season 1 when it came out on tv. I didn't watch season 2 or 3 when they first aired because, well, college got in the way, but I left season 1 somehow assuming Zutara. No idea why, even when I rewatch I go "well...ok pirates and tree and um...yeah?" Really, I can not tell you how I came to this conclusion. Over the summer, before I watched all of it, I managed to catch like the last half of Day of Black Sun, no idea who Mai was or why she mattered, and then watched off and on the finale and somehow, while getting ready to go to work saw the fight with Azula, left assumed they kissed, and then Zuko's coronation speech and was like "see I was right! Now work!" Like running out of the house made me miss everything else. So when I re-watched was like "oh...OH" I don't mind Maiko, I just think that, where they are at the time the show ends sets them up pretty much to fail because they haven't worked out anything. I also think the series could have done well without explicit Kataang, that just implying it would have been better done and might not have lead to the ship wars and what have you because nothing is forced. Its more like they need to grow more before they can have a relationship.
Sorry that was a very long shipping rant and I apologize for it. I just...can't also get over the fact that Bryke said in the interview for Korra "we love love triangles! And teenage love! Squee!" and my first thought was "WELL YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG SO PLEASE JUST STOP"
Re: My long ass rambles part 2
-"I do fully admit as an adendum that I like the idea of Zutara a lot more in the series than anything else but there is a weird way how it happened: I watch all of season 1 when it came out on tv. I didn't watch season 2 or 3 when they first aired because, well, college got in the way, but I left season 1 somehow assuming Zutara. No idea why, even when I rewatch I go "well...ok pirates and tree and um...yeah?" Really, I can not tell you how I came to this conclusion. Over the summer, before I watched all of it, I managed to catch like the last half of Day of Black Sun, no idea who Mai was or why she mattered, and then watched off and on the finale and somehow, while getting ready to go to work saw the fight with Azula, left assumed they kissed, and then Zuko's coronation speech and was like "see I was right! Now work!" Like running out of the house made me miss everything else. So when I re-watched was like "oh...OH" I don't mind Maiko, I just think that, where they are at the time the show ends sets them up pretty much to fail because they haven't worked out anything. I also think the series could have done well without explicit Kataang, that just implying it would have been better done and might not have lead to the ship wars and what have you because nothing is forced. Its more like they need to grow more before they can have a relationship."
Well-said! :D
Although to be fair, with everything regarding romance, you're going to have ship wars. Still, I guess if Kataang had been done better...yeah. :/
"Sorry that was a very long shipping rant and I apologize for it. I just...can't also get over the fact that Bryke said in the interview for Korra "we love love triangles! And teenage love! Squee!" and my first thought was 'WELL YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG SO PLEASE JUST STOP'"
It's okay. I understand. *Hugs* And honestly, it made for a really interesting read. ^__^
:)
Re: My long ass rambles part 2
*sigh* Man part of me can't wait for all the ship wars that will ineveitably happen with Korra.
Re: My long ass rambles part 1
"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*"
Well said! :D
-Definite LOL at treetop wedding. XD And yeah...it's kind of weird that he didn't get jealous around Jet or Haru, but he did around Zuko. But according to Bryke, they apparently didn't have him get jealous around Jet because they wanted it to be more...Katara-centric, so to speak. Yeah... *Shrugs*
And I'll admit that Aang's behavior in "The Southern Raiders" bugged me too. For all that Katara acted like a jerk (seriously, I can understand why, but what she said to Sokka really, *really* left a black mark on her for me. You know the, "You didn't love Mom like I did." *Winces at memory*), Aang was also out of line. I was thinking, "Dude, just let her have her closure. She needs it." Then again, "The Southern Raiders" wasn't a favorite of mine; I loved the bonding -- so to speak -- between Zuko and Katara, and I loved the bit with Sokka and the lei. I loved what we saw of Kya, and Yon Rha was pretty interesting -- but overall, everyone just felt a little off. :/ OOC, really.
"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."
That's pretty weird to say the least... :/
So "Sifu" is Chinese (correct me if I'm wrong. :) for "Master"? That's pretty cool. :)
Re: My long ass rambles part 1
"Definite LOL at treetop wedding. XD And yeah...it's kind of weird that he didn't get jealous around Jet or Haru, but he did around Zuko. But according to Bryke, they apparently didn't have him get jealous around Jet because they wanted it to be more...Katara-centric, so to speak. Yeah... *Shrugs*"
AAAARRGGGGGGG!!!!!! But, I, what?! Katara gets jealous in The Headband and that's a more Aang centric episode!!!! Oh whatever, I give up now.
I've heard that from a lot of people, actually, about The Southern Raiders. I like it but I see where everyone goes "but they're all OOC!" Especially everyone saying Katara holds her grudge too long. I would say yes if at the very beginning of the season she is still holding a grudge against her dad for leaving. And she holds on against Jet. She holds grudges. Its Aang and a few of Katara's comments that get me but I think hers can also be explained away by stress and kind of everything else. One of my favorite things about the episode is all the flashbacks and how you can tell who's remembering by what they see. Sokka didn't get to see inside the tent so we don't get that till Katara remembers and we don't get why Kya dyed till Yon Rha remembers and I love it.
Dear google, thanks for telling me when I google sifu that I should look for Sifu Kisu. <3 Me
Dear wikipedia, BETTER DEFINITION: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sifu <3 Me
So the answer is its half teacher half master, mostly master and that actually makes it a little more insulting to Katara, who has become a Master by that point.
Re: My long ass rambles part 1
May I read it when you're done? It sounds interesting. :)
-"AAAARRGGGGGGG!!!!!! But, I, what?! Katara gets jealous in The Headband and that's a more Aang centric episode!!!! Oh whatever, I give up now."
I think they kind of meant that they wanted to focus some more on Katara's own feelings of betrayal. *Sighs* On the bright side, at least it didn't give them the opportunity to demonize Jet in favor of making Kataang look good (YMMV. :)... :/
-I think it was mostly what she said to Sokka that made me a little...uncomfortable. :/ But I guess it's kind of a little thing in comparison.
And very true regarding Katara holding grudges. I mean...she's not perfect, to say the least. But then again, that's definitely why we love her. ^__^
And yeah, the flashbacks were pretty cool. (I think what's kind of funny, really, is that the actress who plays Kya is actually the same one who plays Azula. So if you think of Azula basically being Katara's mother...yeah. XD)
-"So the answer is its half teacher half master, mostly master and that actually makes it a little more insulting to Katara, who has become a Master by that point."
0.0.
Jesus, poor Katara. D: *Hugs*
Seriously, why? :/
Re: My long ass rambles part 1
-True. Its more of a consistency thing. Like even a throw away line of Aang saying "but you never made me a hat" would have been acceptable. Its not overtly "LOVE ME MORE BETTER THAN HIM" but its something I could see Aang saying.
-It is a very hurtful line and I think that was the point. Katara was being pushed by Sokka at the time and came up with the worst thing she could say. Or at least thats probably what the writers thought. Its a line thats supposed to make you uncomfortable.
Doesn't she voice someone else also? Like Yang Chen the last airbending Avatar? I swear she voices three people in that series and you're like "oh, really?!" Ah! Ta Min! Roku's wife!
I know Mae Whitman did the voice for Azula in EIP. And Grey DeLisle(Azula) did EIP Katara.
Yeah, I'm not sure other than just plan: oh we didn't think about it much. Though when Aang uses the term for Zuko it is Sifu Hotman and not his name.
Re: My long ass rambles part 1
Okay then. ^__^
-Makes sense. I mean, God knows I've said stuff I didn't mean in arguments with people I know at tmes.
-Grey DeLisle's the woman. Seriously. She did an excellent job with Azula, and even with such small, one-episode/one scene roles as Kya, EIP!Katara and Ta-Min (although YMMV on Kya), she really stands out in the episode. (In fact, this is just a well-cast TV series all around, IMHO. :)
-Actually, I think it was Tara Strong (Mai's mom) who voiced Azula in EIP. ^__^
-Again, makes a lot of sense. :)
Re: My long ass rambles part 1
-meh, imdb could be wrong.
Re: My long ass rambles part 1
I didn't really get the info from IMDB, though. I got it from TV Tropes. *Is a hardcore troper. XD*
Re: Quixotic Ramblings, part one
Yeah, I can see that too.
Re: Quixotic Ramblings, part one
And seriously -- don't screw with Sokka, especially when it comes to his sister. ^__^ I especially love that little moment in "Siege of the North, pt. 1" when they've gotten their way out of the rubble (you know, after Zhao's basically blown the bridge to hell) and Sokka's anxiously looking for his sister... *Hugs him and Katara both* ^__^
Seriously, I think for all their bickering, they love one another deeply. A lot like real siblings do. ^__^
Re: Quixotic Ramblings, part one
Re: Quixotic Ramblings, part one
I think of the Sokka/Katara dynamic as a contrast to the Zuko/Azula one. You have the same set up between the two pairs and two very different results pretty much based on parenting and culture. Sokka and Katara look out for each other while Zuko and Azula try to best and kill each other.
Be prepared for a long response btw.
Re: Quixotic Ramblings, part one
Me as well. ^__^ And she mostly signed on because she was a fan of the character. *Hugs the poor girl* Seriously, she deserved a much better script than that. :(
"Though I like who they cast for Suki she was one of the ones when thinking about it I kind of went "you know, I could see them casting a not-Asain as her because of her red hair and her eyes", it was just something that I could see them doing and then pointing to the show and going "no, for realsies, look at her.'"
Well, regarding the red hair...couldn't they use a wig or something? :P
But in all honesty, I see where you're coming from. ^__^
And yeah, the casting debacle was...well, I know it's going to leave a stain on Paramount for quite a while. 0.0. *Feels a bit sorry for them. Almost*
"I think of the Sokka/Katara dynamic as a contrast to the Zuko/Azula one. You have the same set up between the two pairs and two very different results pretty much based on parenting and culture. Sokka and Katara look out for each other while Zuko and Azula try to best and kill each other."
Well said! :D
*settles in for long response* ^__^
Re: Quixotic Ramblings, part one
Yeah they could and I can see where they might have done that but if you also think "oh well she's not that major of a character...we can let this slide" if they needed to. I could see them using the actress they did cast as Suki for, say, Mai later.
I honestly want to know if it was Paramount's call or M. Night. Because from what I heard him say about the places is that it was his call as to what ethnicity people were but that doesn't explain Jesse McCarthy's initial casting as Zuko or that Rathbone originally auditioned for Zuko (oh imdb how you are my friend).
Re: Quixotic Ramblings, part one
-Maybe. *Shrugs* And yes, I think Jessica Jade Andres would also make a pretty badass Mai.
-"I honestly want to know if it was Paramount's call or M. Night. Because from what I heard him say about the places is that it was his call as to what ethnicity people were but that doesn't explain Jesse McCarthy's initial casting as Zuko or that Rathbone originally auditioned for Zuko (oh imdb how you are my friend)."
Good question.
Granted, it *was* Dee-Dee Rickets who pulled the "Caucasian or any other ethnicity" thing (plus...other things. *Winces*), but in an interview, M. Night said he had "complete say in the casting". Maybe it was a little of both? :/ *Confused*
Anyways, very interesting thoughts there! :D
Re: Quixotic Ramblings, part one
Re: Quixotic Ramblings, part one