Aang and Fire Lord Ozai vs. Adora and Horde Prime: How to Write Shallow Hero/Villain Relationships

[stryke]

The smiley was there to show I was not being entirely serious, and no blame was cast at anyone in my post as I'm well aware that such outcomes can have many a person involved in their making. I just said that I hate it, and I do, oof it's bad still.

I can only view the show as it exists as something to watch in the same way that I've always found it silly that some Trekkies will defend the fifth film because Shatner claims he could have done much better with more budget. Sure you could but you still made by far the worst original series movie by far, and that was the version I unfortunately sat through. I'd also point to the whiplash inducing bending restoration at the end of s1 of Korra. Yes, I know about the show at that time being at risk of not being renewed but it still hurt what was otherwise a pretty great episode.

I'd disagree that every complaint is shared between each show as for me there's definitely some problems that are entirely unique to Korra. The nakedly desperate attempt to recreate the Zuko Katara Aang love triangle dynamic to get the shippers back and riled up in s1 for example, or the out of place and rather jarring usage of over the top anime comedy faces for another. Those just being two of the top of my head.

[Winter]

The smiley was there to show I was not being entirely serious, and no blame was cast at anyone in my post as I'm well aware that such outcomes can have many a person involved in their making. I just said that I hate it, and I do, oof it's bad still.

I can only view the show as it exists as something to watch in the same way that I've always found it silly that some Trekkies will defend the fifth film because Shatner claims he could have done much better with more budget. Sure you could but you still made by far the worst original series movie by far, and that was the version I unfortunately sat through. I'd also point to the whiplash inducing bending restoration at the end of s1 of Korra. Yes, I know about the show at that time being at risk of not being renewed but it still hurt what was otherwise a pretty great episode.

I'd disagree that every complaint is shared between each show as for me there's definitely some problems that are entirely unique to Korra. The nakedly desperate attempt to recreate the Zuko Katara Aang love triangle dynamic to get the shippers back and riled up in s1 for example, or the out of place and rather jarring usage of over the top anime comedy faces for another. Those just being two of the top of my head.

In regards to Korra going more anime I can't agree as Airbender did the same thing if not MORE so. And luckily I can bring evidence to this, take away Avatar YT.


youtu.be/YIHWvDwl1qw


youtu.be/Pl2c0Fg2vxc

The Korra video is notably shorter then the Airbender one.

As for the Zuko, Aang and Katara love triangle Airbender is guilty even more of that via the number of times the show teased it which was the result of many of the writers shipping Zutara. Keep in mind that during the finale of season 2 a tv spot was released that teased Zutara so Airbender is even more guilty of getting shippers onboard for whatever they were selling.

Just look at the final trailer for the series, Zuko and Katara get the most focus and the Kataang scene they include was Katara moving away from Aang when he goes to kiss AFTER showing a scene where she hugs Zuko. It was no more desperate in Korra than it was in Airbender.

Now, I will admit that there are a number of episodes in Korra that I just flat out do not like with the most notable being the first half of Spirits and while there aren't many episodes in Airbender that I dislike there are PLENTY of moments that make me cringe as much as anything in Korra or somethings that I just do not like.

Going off the Kataang romance I Hated the fact that the two Never resolved their relationship issues. Most of the last few episodes have them arguing with one another as Katara and Zuko become closer with one of the worst moments being they're only scene along together in The Ember Island Players. Aang is basically trying to force Katara into a relationship with him with him kissing when she didn't want it, getting angry at her for something someone PLAYING her said and being so clingy and possessive that even the writers said that Aang was out of line.

And this never gets resolved, this is just left hanging and the last time they interact is in the first part of Sozin's Comet where they have yet another argument and then they never see each other and as a result never deal with these issues. And at the end, they are now a couple and kiss as if nothing is wrong.

For all my issues with Makorra I do like how they broke up at the end of Spirits and how with Korrasami the two Work Through their issues. They talk to each other, open up to each other and instead of never talking about their issues they talk about it and work to resolve them.

Or again, how Aang is regulated to secondary character in his own show in the final season, or Zuko's last minute and kinda random Heel-Face Turn in Earth, or how the series uses Deus Ex Machinas that are just as outlandish as anything done in Korra (Koyzilla and Lion Turtle anyone?).

And don't even get me started on the Painted Lady (yeah Katara risk the entire world so you can play superhero that only puts the people you're trying to save in danger) or for that matter that Katara can be just as selfish and unlikable as Korra is, something Chuck pointed out in his reviews of the show.

Again, I few both as great and it's fine if these issues don't bother you but this is why I feel the way I do about both shows. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[stryke]

In regards to Korra going more anime I can't agree as Airbender did the same thing if not MORE so. And luckily I can bring evidence to this, take away Avatar YT.

Ah should have been more specific, I was referring to that one scene in Korra where it wasn't just the face being anime inspired, but they do this whole out of nowhere seriously over the top animation style jump with crashing background lightning bolts and the like and just going really full on in a decidedly WTF manner. The Avatar ones stuck to the animation style of the rest of the show and so never felt so out of place.

Also while I'm dropping Avatar and Korra hot takes, The Great Divide does not deserve the hate it gets and the ending twist genuinely made me laugh at the time. Probably below average sure but I don't think it'd even make my bottom ten episodes.

[Winter]

In regards to Korra going more anime I can't agree as Airbender did the same thing if not MORE so. And luckily I can bring evidence to this, take away Avatar YT.

Ah should have been more specific, I was referring to that one scene in Korra where it wasn't just the face being anime inspired, but they do this whole out of nowhere seriously over the top animation style jump with crashing background lightning bolts and the like and just going really full on in a decidedly WTF manner. The Avatar ones stuck to the animation style of the rest of the show and so never felt so out of place.

Aang's Out of Series Anime Nightmares. They're literally based on Anime like Dragon Ball & Naruto. There is no other scene or anime moment in Avatar like this, comes out of nowhere and goes nowhere. This is the Big Lipped Alligator Moment of the series, their Pink Elephants on Parade or Cabin Fever from Muppet Treasure Island. It's out of nowhere, doesn't fit with Aang's character or the series' tone and was done mainly because the showrunners thought it was funny.