#Katara x Zuko

[starlight-bread-blog]

The Fortune in The Fortune Teller

This is an isolated look into this specific episode.

The Fortune Teller is the 14th episode of book 1 of Avatar: The Last Airbender. It is famous for supposedly developping the show's romantic subplot between Katara and A\ang. The episode does two things: A\ang attempts to flirt with Katara, and Katara is finally willing to consider him as more than just a friend.

However, I believe that this episode could have masterfully foreshadowed the pair not getting together in the end. In this essay I will detail how each step the episode takes towards a Kat@ang endgame is actually foreshadowing the opposite.

1. Katara and the Nature of Destiny

In the beginning, the Gaang meets a person getting attacked by a bear. He is acting incredibly passive, simply dodging the bear's attemps at his life. Then, A\ang and Appa interfere to help the man. When the Gaang questions him on why he was so passive, he says it's because the Fortune Teller told him he'd have a safe journey. They then have the following exchange:

The man's logic is obviously flawed. If the Gaang didn't interfere, if the man continued to passivaly dodge, the bear would have attacked him. Fortune and destiny come from agency – from actively shaping them.

However, Katara is delaited at the prospect of seeing the future. Her and the Gaang go to meet the Fortune Teller, Aunt Wu. Aunt Wu tells her she'll marry a very powerful bender. Later, she comes back asking more details about her future husband. Remember her excitment, fantacising about her future husband:

After that, Katara becomes somewhat reliant on Aunt Wu's prophecies. She goes as far as to ask her what she should eat.

And she obeys her "prophecy", despite not wanting to. She became like the man from the beginning. She knowingly follows the fortune even though it doesn't make sense. She had given up on forging her own destiny.

Although by the end of the episode, she is no longer in this state of reliance, she still believes in the prophecies. Then, Sokka says that A\ang is a very powerful bender. This reminds her of what Aunt Wu said about her future husband. I don't want to cherry pick, so I took 4 different pictures of her face when she realizes A\ang might be the powerful bender she is to marry:

With the look in her eyes, with her mouth tilted down and with the ominous music, this could easily be read as disappointment. Especially when remembering how she fantacized about the powerful bender earlier in the episode. She doesn't smile, but looks concerned. As if she doesn't want this. Earlier in the episode, she says this:

A\ang is like the papaya. The fortune says he's right for her, but Katara doesn't want him. Now, she isn't like the man, passively dodging the bear attacking her. She shouldn't sit and wait for the prophecy to come true point blank. She has the agency to shape her own destiny and not to choose A\ang as her future husband.

2. A\ang, Meng, and First Crushes

In this episode we're introduced to a girl named Meng. Aunt Wu told her she'd end up with someone like A\ang, and so she developped a one sided crush on him. Throughout the episode she attempts to talk to him, all to no avail. Because A\ang is not interested in her.

Interestingly, her one sided crush is directly paralleled to A\ang's crush on Katara.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Exhibit C:

Please note that in exhibits B and C in particular, there is an emphasis on the other party not reciprocating their feelings.

In this parallel the show draws, A\ang is Meng, the younger, shorter one the one who is in love; and Katara is A\ang, the older, taller one who... *checks notes*... doesn't reciprocate.

But in the end, A\ang and Meng have a heart-to-heart.

Sometimes you'll like someone, and they aren't going to feel the same way, and even though it's hard, it's okay. They're young, just kids having a crush. A\ang responds to this with "I know what you mean". Because he, just like the audience that watched the parallels, knows that Katara likely doesn't return his feelings.

———————

In conclusion, The Fortuneteller could have been brilliant foreshadowing to Kata\ang not being the endgame couple, and it would have done so through beautiful, mature lessons about first loves and destiny. Thank you for reading.

#anti kataang #zutara #atla critical #anti anti zutara #pro zutara #zutara analysis #zutara evidence #zutara forever #zutara meta #zutara nation #zutara should have been canon #zutar #zutara supremacy #zuko x katara #katara x zuko #katara #meng

[broadwaybalogna]

MORE MORE MORE MORE ZUTARA INCORRECT QUOTES

-

Katara: I would never say that Zuko is a bitch and I don’t don’t like him. That’s not true… Zuko is a bitch and I like him so much!

-

Katara: How much did you spend on this date?

Zuko: $1400. But all of it's on credit cards, so it's like $5 a month for the next 2,000 years.

-

Katara: What do you want to be for Halloween?

Zuko: Yours.

Katara:

Katara: …yeah, that would be pretty scary.

-

Katara: That was so hot, Zuko.

Zuko: I literally called the person who just flirted with you a degenterate dog and told them I hope they get dragged through the streets.

Katara: I'm so in love with you.

-

Katara: Yeah, a partner sounds nice, but a supreme enemy you can make out with in secret sometimes sounds a lot more hardcore.

-

Katara: Hey, wanna take a shower with me?

Zuko: I have a gun in that nightstand beside the bed. If I ever say no to that question, I want you to take it out and shot me because I’ve obviously gone crazy.

-

Zuko: Katara and I are no longer friends.

Katara: ZUKO THAT IS THE WORST WAY TO TELL PEOPLE THAT WE’RE DATING!

-

Zuko: Katara and I are no longer dating.

Katara: Zuko, that’s a horrible way of telling people we’re married.

-

Katara: You have to apologize to them Zuko.

Zuko: Fine! But I must warn you that this might make me a better, nicer person and that is NOT the person you fell in love with!

#atla katara #zutara #atla #atla zuko #katara #zuko #avatar the last airbender #zuko x katara #katara x zuko #incorrect quotes

[demaparbat-hp]

Handprint

#atla #avatar the last airbender #zuko #katara #zutara #atla art #atla fanart #zuko fanart #zuko art #katara art #katara fanart #atla zuko #atla katara #katara of the southern water tribe #prince zuko #zuko x katara #katara x zuko #Western Air Temple #zutara art #zutara fanart #avatar #She figures it out on her own #And Agni it hurts #Who's up for killing papa Ozai? #fire lord ozai #This is one of my favorite ZK headcanons of all times. Katara just... putting the pieces together and figuring out what happened to Zuko. #It's a different kind of angst #Zuko's scar having the shape of Ozai's hand is heartwrenching. I get why some people describe it as a comet and whatnot. But a Handprint... #The visual metaphor... #Agni help Ozai 'cause I fucking won't

[bloomsbury]

my loser boy gets his notebook back and immediately gets back to work 🌊

#resim mesim #illustration #fanart #artists on tumblr #zutara #zk #zuko x katara #katara x zuko #natla #atla #atla live action #kiawentiio #dallas liu #zuko #katara

[pokidokieships]

Sharing cultures + lots of teasing

Their banter is one of the many things about this ship that I absolutely love <3

#feeding the zutara fandom (and myself mostly) yet again #I’m more than happy to #zutara #zuko x katara #katara x zuko #zutara fanart #prince zuko #zuko atla #katara #katara of the southern water tribe #katara atla #atla #avatar the last airbender #atla fanart #netflix atla #netflix avatar #natla #avatar #myart

[meoowwxx]

w/ katara doodle

#zutara #katara x zuko #atla zuko #atla katara #katara #zuko #prince zuko #atla #avatar the last airbender #i feel like i did not give her justice :( she should be pretty :(

[ciccerone]

Katara and Zuko by Paulina Klime

#Paulina Klime #PaulinaKlime #ATLA #Zutara #straight couple #💏 #avatar the last airbender #atla fanart #katara #katara x zuko #zuko #katara fanart #digital art #cute art #cartoon couple #zutara fanart #fanart #2d art

[lennenart]

OK, so... I saw this post on twitter and decided to draw something based on it

And so it was born our shy Zuko puting the flower on her hair~

PS: I love uncle Iroh interaction and Zuko tomato face really much~

#avatar the last airbender #zuko x katara #zuko #zutara #avatar fanart #katara x zuko #katara #illustration #fanart #comic art

[lphoenixspiritl]

Zuko finds out Katara was parentified from the age of eight and was a single mom friend of three until he stumbled into the position of gaang dad friend. So when she visits the Fire Nation Zuko dotes on her, making sure her every need is anticipated and catered to. He even goes as far as - to the horror of his council - kneeling to remove her shoes.

Because of this she earns the nickname Lady Katara among the palace staff which she finds amusing but a little confusing. So one day over tea she asks Iroh why they call her that and he explains:

"They're just practicing."

"Why would you need to practice a nickname?"

"Well my dear, they expect that within a few years Fire will preceed it."

And that's about when Katara chokes on her tea.

#zutara #katara #fire lady katara #katara x zuko #zuko x katara #zutarian #atla

[stardust948]

#atla #zutara #chibi zutara #chibi atla #natla #atla live action #pro zutara #zuko x katara #katara x zuko #atla memes #zutara memes #zutara forever

[zukodragon]

people died.

#zutara #katara #zuko #avatar the last airbender #atla #prince zuko #katara x zuko #zuko x katara #avatar live action #dallas liu #kiawentiio

[starlight-bread-blog]

"Zuko would take a lightning for anyone–"

But it was Katara that he chose to invite.

"Zuko would take a lightning for anyone–"

But Azula knew to aim at Katara.

"Zuko would take a lightning for anyone–"

But the scene was romamtically coded.

"Zuko would take a lightning for anyone–"

But Katara needed to get to heal him.

"Zuko would take a lightning for anyone–"

But it was Katara who was with him in season finales.

"Zuko would take a lightning for anyone–"

But he needed to choose Katara over Azula.

"Zuko would take a lightning for anyone–"

But Shu needed to survive in this life.

"Zuko would take a lightning for anyone–"

But the writers deliberately chose Katara.

Inspired by @captain-konami-code 's "They were enemies"

#DISCLAIMER: I know this post isn't a full convincing argument. It's more for people who already agree. #it *definitely* falls under shitpost #zutara shitpost #<- the true nature of the post #zutara meta #<- for exposure #zutara #anti anti zutara #pro zutara #zuko x katara #katara x zuko #zukoxkatara #kataraxzuko #zutara analysis #zutara evidence #zutara forever #zutara nation #zutara was robbed #zutara supremacy #zutara should have been canon #atla critical #atla critisism #katara #zuko #prince zuko #katara of the southern water tribe

[yourhighness6]

Was reading an article on writing love interests and there was a section about how in any romance both characters should reciprocate the other's actions, like for example if one character saves the other's life the gesture should be returned and...

(also definitely not noticing the subtle detail of Katara's hand tangled in Zuko's hair I didn't notice it and no one else should either)

#the zutara brainrot has consumed my life completely can u tell? #atla #avatar the last airbender #zutara #zuko #katara #katara x zuko #zuko x katara #mutual support for the win honestly

[demaparbat-hp]

Stories

#atla #avatar the last airbender #zuko #katara #zutara #the painted lady #Kyoshi Warrior Ursa AU #atla zuko #atla katara #prince zuko #atla art #atla fanart #zuko art #zuko fanart #katara of the southern water tribe #katara art #katara fanart #zuko x katara #katara x zuko #zutara art #zutara au #painted lady #Kyoshi Warrior Zuko #In case you were wondering yes he's talking about the Blue Spirit #Also Izumi is the Painted Lady's human name. Because of course it is. Gotta love the canon implications of something like that #Anyways Zuko is kind of an unofficial Kyoshi Warrior in this AU. Ursa escaped with her children to Kyoshi and eventually became... #... the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors. Zuko's war paint is a mix of the Kyoshi style and a river spirit from home #Katara got curious about his war paint being different from the others and asked him about it. And so began a tradition of Zuko telling... #... Katara stories about the Painted Lady. When she begins to impersonate her Zuko does Katara's makeup and lets her help with his war paint #Later on they help each other wash out the paint in the river. It's an intimate process.

[bloomsbury]

i simply had to ❤️✨🩵

#not shipping the actors #resim mesim #illustration #fanart #artists on tumblr #zutara #zuko #katara #zuko x katara #katara x zuko #dallas liu #kiawentiio #atla #natla #avatar the last airbender

[pokidokieships]

Nurse, she’s out again !!

#and we’re back again #zutara #atla #I drew them earlier this year as a treat but now I’m just fully obsessed again lol #Zuko x Katara #Katara x Zuko #avatar the last airbender #avatar netflix #avatar live action #Prince Zuko #katara of the southern water tribe #Zuko #Katara #myart