Celebrating Pride Month: Lumity
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2022 6:16 am
Of all the romantic relationships on Disney Channel (or Disney+ for that matter) it's hard to find a story that is as popular as Luz and Amity from The Owl House. These two are talked about by major news sites, have more fan art and fics then God and are THE reason many people got into The Owl House. But what's interesting about Lumity is that they are, quite possible, one of the healthiest couples in storytelling EVER.
Like after these two started showing signs that they had feelings for each other they have had barely, if any, arguments, fights and even that many misunderstandings. They're open with each other, keep few secrets and the few they do keep the other usually understands why they do so. And the few times they do have an issue they talk it through and work it out so it's usually cleared up before the episode is even done.
Now, in many series this would be viewed as boring by many yet Lumity manages to avoid so by virture of just being utterly adorable and fun to watch. They're not one of those sickly sweet heart couples that come off as so good they are unbelievable and would be made into a parody by another series. The way they work through their issues and talk to each other makes for compelling and engaging drama because while they don't have many issues as a couple they DO have their own personal issues and they do their best to try and deal with those issues together.
Luz is having trouble telling her friends that her mom wanted her to leave the Demon realm, Amity knows something is up but doesn't force the issue and rather works but does ask Luz what is bothering her. The reason this works is because the drama doesn't come from them fighting but rather from them understanding each other and the few times they don't they open up to each other and figure out a way forward.
It's very much like Korrasami which has a similar dynamic. Instead of being at each others throats the whole time and getting into constant arguments, the two work together to solve their issues and as a result come off as fun to watch because you can see how much they care for each other and how they try to be there for each other.
Contrast this with relationships like Kataang who are an example of both the bickering couple who never seem to be able to get along, the perfect couple who never talk about any of their issues and the shallow "I love My Version of you and not who you really are". In the last half of Avatar Katara and Aang spend most of their time arguing entering some REALLY uncomfortable relationship issues (Aang getting angry at Katara for something someone PLAYING her said is not something I ever intend to drop) and instead of addressing these issues the show just pretends their not an issue even though this IS something they should work out. But nope, they just get together and ALL their arguments throughout the series are never addressed or resolved.
Then comes the comics where they became that sickly sweet couple that feels so hollow and fake that even many people who did ship them pretty much abandoned the pairing due to how annoying the two got when they were together. And just like the show the two NEVER address any of the issues they have. Aang spends more time with his fan girls then his Actual girlfriend and instead of Katara talking to Aang about this she just sits by and takes it. And worst of all Aang keeps putting his own personal issues ahead of his relationship with Katara and yet almost NEVER helps her out with any of hers.
All this is exacerbated by how shallow their relationship feels. Aang falls in love with Katara the moment he sees her which is only ever treated like a standard crush, Katara never really seems to notice said crush but the two will get together because Destiny, aka the Script, says so. Sure Aang is the Avatar and the hero who will save the world and Katara is someone who helps to give Aang a tie to the world he's trying to save but, what else is there?
Amity, who is voiced by Katara's actor just FYI, doesn't fall for Luz because someone read a prophesy to her, but because Luz, despite a series of misunderstandings and misfortunes, always tried to be nice to Amity and even tried to help her when she was down. And Luz didn't stand falling for Amity until Amity tried to better herself and mend her relationship with Willow and show who she really was.
The reason Lumity works and Kataang doesn't is for the same reason Catradora works and Reylo doesn't. While the couples sound the same on paper in practices one relationship is shallow and is more of a by the numbers romance while the other feels... Real!
Lumity works because the two work to understand each other, they talk to each other so when they reach their low points they are there for each other to try and pull each other back up. And as such, create compelling drama as they improve themselves and each other thanks to their relationship.
Like after these two started showing signs that they had feelings for each other they have had barely, if any, arguments, fights and even that many misunderstandings. They're open with each other, keep few secrets and the few they do keep the other usually understands why they do so. And the few times they do have an issue they talk it through and work it out so it's usually cleared up before the episode is even done.
Now, in many series this would be viewed as boring by many yet Lumity manages to avoid so by virture of just being utterly adorable and fun to watch. They're not one of those sickly sweet heart couples that come off as so good they are unbelievable and would be made into a parody by another series. The way they work through their issues and talk to each other makes for compelling and engaging drama because while they don't have many issues as a couple they DO have their own personal issues and they do their best to try and deal with those issues together.
Luz is having trouble telling her friends that her mom wanted her to leave the Demon realm, Amity knows something is up but doesn't force the issue and rather works but does ask Luz what is bothering her. The reason this works is because the drama doesn't come from them fighting but rather from them understanding each other and the few times they don't they open up to each other and figure out a way forward.
It's very much like Korrasami which has a similar dynamic. Instead of being at each others throats the whole time and getting into constant arguments, the two work together to solve their issues and as a result come off as fun to watch because you can see how much they care for each other and how they try to be there for each other.
Contrast this with relationships like Kataang who are an example of both the bickering couple who never seem to be able to get along, the perfect couple who never talk about any of their issues and the shallow "I love My Version of you and not who you really are". In the last half of Avatar Katara and Aang spend most of their time arguing entering some REALLY uncomfortable relationship issues (Aang getting angry at Katara for something someone PLAYING her said is not something I ever intend to drop) and instead of addressing these issues the show just pretends their not an issue even though this IS something they should work out. But nope, they just get together and ALL their arguments throughout the series are never addressed or resolved.
Then comes the comics where they became that sickly sweet couple that feels so hollow and fake that even many people who did ship them pretty much abandoned the pairing due to how annoying the two got when they were together. And just like the show the two NEVER address any of the issues they have. Aang spends more time with his fan girls then his Actual girlfriend and instead of Katara talking to Aang about this she just sits by and takes it. And worst of all Aang keeps putting his own personal issues ahead of his relationship with Katara and yet almost NEVER helps her out with any of hers.
All this is exacerbated by how shallow their relationship feels. Aang falls in love with Katara the moment he sees her which is only ever treated like a standard crush, Katara never really seems to notice said crush but the two will get together because Destiny, aka the Script, says so. Sure Aang is the Avatar and the hero who will save the world and Katara is someone who helps to give Aang a tie to the world he's trying to save but, what else is there?
Amity, who is voiced by Katara's actor just FYI, doesn't fall for Luz because someone read a prophesy to her, but because Luz, despite a series of misunderstandings and misfortunes, always tried to be nice to Amity and even tried to help her when she was down. And Luz didn't stand falling for Amity until Amity tried to better herself and mend her relationship with Willow and show who she really was.
The reason Lumity works and Kataang doesn't is for the same reason Catradora works and Reylo doesn't. While the couples sound the same on paper in practices one relationship is shallow and is more of a by the numbers romance while the other feels... Real!
Lumity works because the two work to understand each other, they talk to each other so when they reach their low points they are there for each other to try and pull each other back up. And as such, create compelling drama as they improve themselves and each other thanks to their relationship.