#struggling w mastering bending during the whole show | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

themoonandhersun · 3 years

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hot take time:

i LOVE that katara is a pro at waterbending

i love her for it and i just think it’s so badass that she mastered it so fast—but i think, considering how we saw her struggle with it at the start, it would’ve been realistic to still struggle with it even after getting a master.

i’m not saying she should’ve been on par with how zuko struggles with his firebending, but i just think it would’ve been very interesting to see her waterbending skills develop over the course of the three books instead of her just mastering it in the first one, you know?

none of this is to say that katara doesn’t continue improving since she mastered waterbending...because she did keep improving and ingrained moves from the other nations into her bending as well.

like...for example: the breath of life move she used during sozins comet (i feel like it originates from both the air nomads and the fire nation? maybe it’s just fanon that it came from the air nomads first, but it explains how aang is able to just vibe at the poles with no parkas. i’m just not entirely sure where it comes from).

i just think seeing katara struggle with her waterbending, even after getting a master, would have made the pay off of her being a master more interesting (rewarding?) to watch.

i know people love that she’s a waterbending prodigy and i love it, too, don’t get me wrong. it’s just—not everyone is a prodigy, you know? not everyone just ‘gets it’ from the start. i feel as if zuko is really the only person we see struggle with his bending ability for the entirety of the show (in terms of not being a master! zuko is a good firebender in his own right! he is!).

toph, aang, and katara are all bending prodigies; i would even argue that suki and sokka are prodigies, too. like sokka had no problem fighting against his master after...what? a week of training...a few days, at the very least? and suki, as we already know, is good at hand to hand combat and with her katana, too. she’s no master, she said that herself, but she’s still clearly good at it and doesn’t struggle with it. in fact, when we see her at the boiling rock, she can keep up with ty lee, a whole ass chi blocker—which says enough to me, honestly, about suki’s abilities. i mean, suki is such a badass, and i think she deserves more appreciation! but that’s another post for another day!!!

also, yeah—aang did struggle with earth at first. but as soon as he learned to face things head on? he was good at it. and, he struggled with fire, too, right...but as soon as he learned that fire is life and not destruction? yeah...he was good at that, too. was he a master of earth or fire at the end? no, but that doesn’t mean he was still struggling with it at the end. but i’m like, 100% sure that if aang had more time to master all of the elements, he would have done it. (he was a natural with water, so i don’t even feel the need to mention it. especially since, you know, if he was more diligent like katara when he had lessons with pakku, he would’ve been a master already.)

what was my point?

oh yeah.

katara is a strong, compassionate, kind, and stubborn character. i see myself in her (no i’m not saying that to be arrogant or conceited or anything) but the part where i don’t see myself in her is how she just...‘gets it’ as soon as she has someone to teach her. a lot of people just...aren’t like that, you know? and if she struggled with bending, you know she wouldn’t give up on it, and i just think it would’ve been very inspiring to see that, you know? it would’ve sent the message that—even if something is hard to achieve, it doesn’t mean you should give up on it. it would’ve sent the message that...if it’s important to you, if it means something to you, you shouldn’t give up on it, no matter what. well, that’s the message i think it would send......i also just would’ve loved to have seen that while watching atla. i...think it would’ve helped me a lot....that’s all....

tldr: i think seeing katara become a waterbending master gradually over the course of the three books would have been a good thing to see! i think seeing her struggle with waterbending, even after getting a master, would have been such an important part of her character arc. like her bending is obviously important to her, and seeing her deal with struggling with it—how it might affect her self esteem, her self image, etc etc—would have been a huge deal to the people who aren’t prodigies, aren’t gifted, etc. it would also make her character even more interesting, imo!

#zutara #a rant.....by me #this one has been in the drafts for awhile #listen i just think seeing katara #someone who we’ve already seen struggling w bending #struggling w mastering bending during the whole show #would have been good to see!#she’s stubborn and she would’ve kept trying and trying to master water bending!#i personally would’ve liked to have seen her learn some waterbending from the swampbenders #it would be like drawing wisdom from other places like iroh talked about #also we could’ve seen her have a ceremony or something! like one at the south pole or something #like she was the last waterbender from the south! she should’ve gotten a ceremony for being a master waterbender!#katara deserves to be celebrated! she DOES #i also feel like this rant....didn’t make as much sense as i wanted it to???#also i need to publish some of my drafts!#that’s also why i posted this ✨#also im kinda nervous to post this but it’s like 5am and i haven’t slept and i just feel like posting this #hmmm perhaps i should get some impulse control ? maybe #ALSO if katara struggled more w her bending i feel like she would make her own moves #like she would stray from the things pakku taught her and make her OWN waterbending moves...#cause she’s a badass like that #also she’s creative too #she is the moment #come on now #i also feel the need to clarify: I LOVE KATARA #I LOVE HER VV MUCH I JUST THINK THIS WOULDVE BEEN FUN TO SEE #I HOPE I DONT GET FLAMED FOR THIS

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myfandomrambles · 5 years

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Iroh & Zuko: A study in change and healing.

Uncle Iron and Zuko’s relationship is one I find truly interesting. It shows an interesting look into how people can change, how people can help others, the nature of wisdom and addresses healthy relationships that can survive toxicity.

So first change, this is obviously Zuko’s main character arch change and redemption, that’s been talked about ad nauseam, but Iroh also changed beforehand. We can infer he had a period of time that changed him the same way Zuko did over the course of the show.

Iroh isn’t a magically better person, but one of the main reasons he can be a good force in Zuko’s life is his past change. Iroh always had a tendency towards knowledge and mastered the more spiritual part of Firebending. He also seemed to be more comfortable playing Pai Sho and tea than being a leader. I think his quest for knowledge and lack of political ambition allowed for the death of his son to be a moment that pushed him to end his military campaign and not challenges Ozai’s power grab. We also know somewhere around this time he joined the Order of The White Lotus connecting him to a force trying to bring back balance. Had he not dealt with the reckoning of the destruction of his own family and past, as well as work through tragedy he would not have been able to as effectively help Zuko. He understood the pain and trauma but he had learned acceptance. He was of course not perfect but having known the hate and found the peace he wasn’t leading Zuko blind. This means that not only can Ioh mentor him from a place of age, be fatherly after having lost his own child, but more than most people also have an inherent connection to the struggle being had.

Iroh’s important role within the show is as a sage and mentor to primarily Zuko but others as well. Iroh is calm, accepting, generally level headed and steadfast in his beliefs allowing him to be a guidepost and foil to Zuko’s own erraticism. He loves Zuko deeply and wants nothing more than for him to be able to heal and choose his own path but does challenge him as time goes on knowing if Zuko just lives in pain he can never move forward.

He gives education about the cultures, people and bending of the people they see. He tries to give Zuko the power to work through his own issues. This act is crucial even though Iroh knows Zuko can be a danger to himself and others he doesn’t try and totally strip his autonomy or leave him unable to defend himself. I think this is evident with Zhao in the first book and then the Zuko alone arc in book two. Allowing Zuko to fight for himself when possible, and fail when he has to allows learning and gives real power. This is reinforced when multiple times he tells Zuko that in the end he has to choose what he wants, chose his own destiny and honour. If he wanted Zuko to make good choices reinforcing the life of little choice they came from would have done more damage.

Iroh doesn’t leave him without backup ever either. He’s always there for Zuko either physically having his back in battle, talking to him or even trying to help their crew understand where Zuko is coming from. No one has really had his back since his mother left, and it’s debatable how much she was even capable of doing. Trying to help him understand he isn’t alone is so powerful. Someone just being there for you is one of the most healing things a person can have. And I think more than any of the actual lessons just giving unconditional love was one of the strongest legacies you can leave.

Iroh also modelled what he wanted Zuko to learn. Rather it is Firebending being able to take it with your head held up, letting down walls, enjoying the small things, or brewing the best tea. Iroh lived his ideas making it do as I say and as I do in almost all circumstances. This irked Zuko of course as it was periodically embarrassing for him but I think it was why everyone who met him respected him or at least liked him. Even when Iroh was a man of layers and did have a few secrets he wasn’t duplicitous. Being a model of what you want increases trust and can help it easier to actually learn new ways of being.

Iroh is an example of Wisdom and not just knowledge. I think this difference does matter. Iroh was, of course, a master Firebender knew much of history and culture and was at least a decent military man from the way others spoke of him, but his understanding of the intangible is what makes him powerful. He always knew to watch and learn, he invented multiple bending techniques because he let down the arrogance and took in other ideas. Being a member of the White Lotus he knew and respected the connection of all four elements. He was often a third party within the first book, during the siege of the north we see him chose not to fight really for or against the Fire Nation. He acts to protect the spirits, to keep the balance. He is not averse to using violence (even against his brother or niece) but has a respect for the life of all peoples. This kind of understanding and wisdom is more powerful than any spewing of facts. Because this plays into the level of acceptance he has, makes him a formidable foe and gives him an ability to convey complex ideas.

Trying to find your centre and accepting who you are is an act of connection to the world and yourself. He can help many people Toph, Aang and a street beggar can all listen and understand where he comes from. He can help Zuko through his metamorphosis moment because he understands the connection of identity, health and spirituality. When you can bring a whole connection to someone it will always be stronger then listing facts or platitudes.

Zuko and Iroh have a relationship that is a blur of found family and blood ties. He is Zuko's biological uncle but they don’t seem to have been exceedingly close when Zuko was very young but after Iroh returned from war become closer. In the world of ancestors, destiny and bloodlines their relationship matters, but their connection was born from love, time, care, compassion, struggling, loss, fighting, and forgiveness. Neither the story or Iroh force Zuko to forgive Ozai or Azula. Iroh recognizes that his brother was abusive and horrible to his children, and recognizes that Aula can’t be left in power. Zuko chooses how he confronts both of these people, disavowing his father, and facing his sister with Katara. Their relationship comes out of this history of abuse and toxicity but is forged forward because of how much they have grown to care for each other in their own right and how much they grow. Iroh is Zuko’s real father in any important way and Zuko is as much his son as Lu Ten ever was.

Real World Techniques:

Through writing a mentor to someone who is clearly dealing with mental illness (C-PTSD, BPD) real-world psychological and coping strategies end up being employed in a strong connection.

-Radical acceptance. I skill taught in the framework of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). Iroh has learned to accept his past, and the loss he has shown. Iroh works hard to drag Zuko out of obsessive behaviour by trying to get him to accept that past happens, you can not fix that. Iroh himself embodies this behaviour. He doesn’t force non-action though, the acceptance makes you better able to manage future stress and build better lives.

-Meditation A common skill suggested across mental health and general health practice. He tries to instruct Zuko in this ability as one that is key to being able to properly Firebend and to reach in and use innate human power. This concept also connects people to the spirit world built into the mythology of the world.

-taking responsibility w/out victim blaming. Iroh knows Zuko’s backstory built him into this damaged person, but Iroh doesn’t allow him to hurt others through this. Iroh works to teach him to respect his crew, let down boundaries of pride and learn a new way of working in life. But there is never a time Iroh blames Zuko for the abuse he faced. Ozai’s treatment was never Zuko’s fault. They create an ability to simultaneously own your shit but not stew in self-hate

-We also see the structure we often see in productive de-radicalization programs. Zuko is exposed to the people he was taught to hate, facing the humanity and real-world effects of hate usually begin to break through narratives. Iroh lets him into his own point of view that connects all life, he learns the practice of living within balance instead of the belief system jammed into his brain, doesn’t let Zuko uses his past as reason for his behaviour, and acts and expects Zuko to let the humanity of The Earth Kingdom colour his view. The dissidence from his childhood beliefs and the new ones he can’t integrate into his life. This is crucial to his being able to learn the history of the fire nation, even describing the earth kingdom people favourably before his complete transformation.

Learning to use empathy across whole peoples is powerful to deprogram people, he is expected to verbally and through actions show contrition. Zuko is eventually able to connect to this over his indoctrination. The ability to come with humility and not expect the other side to forgive you. Often framed as seeking forgiveness from the people he does not deserve it from. This behaviour can work in reality and seeing played on screen is part of why this arc resonates across the media.

-Iroh helps Zuko find and construct meaning. The loss of a belief system Zuko experiences through his trauma leaves him in horrible confusion. Iroh helps him connect to his past giving a new lens to view the world from. He can’t do so from the position he held before having that structure built for him.

-I mentioned previously Iroh providing Zuko with a degree of control. Long term child abuse often creates either extreme self-reliance or sometimes learned helplessness. Offering both the ability to protect and control his life combined with having his back can combat both of these. Along with the deeply obsessive thought patterns around the avatar.

I truly belive their relationship is hugley important. Two characters who fit simple archetypes at the start are allowed to bloom into deeply strong and complex real feeling characters. Iroh is shown to be powerful, respected, incredibly kind and wise. We can all learn from him, and be shown a powerful love. Zuko’s own arch ahs been seen as groundbreaking for years but without Zuko we wouldn’t have had a person to guide and reflect this. Adding layers to the world and understanding ourslves.

[Requested by nbj on AO3]

#fandom:#atla #avatar the last airbender #topic:#relationships #trauma and media #abuse and media #character:#zuko #uncle iroh #azula #fire lord ozai #ship:#iron & zuko #type:#txt #my post

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jeichanhaka · 7 years

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To Say Goodbye

Previous Chapter Next Chapter

Chapter 7: Trouble Brews

Staring out the window at the city hospital, Kurama thought about nothing except Hiei—his fire-demon needed him desperately, but Kurama couldn't sense Hiei's aura anywhere, he could sense random bits of familiar aura, but these reminded him of Karasu and that couldn't be possible. Karasu couldn't be alive, Kurama had killed him himself.

"Shuuichi? Are you all right?" Shiori asked, just walking into the hospital room to see her son. Kurama greeted her, appreciating her presence even though he'd prefer to speak to Yusuke or Genkai. If Hinansho visited, Kurama could give him a message to give to Genkai, but Hinansho hadn't showed up since Kurama regained consciousness, and no one would tell him where Hinansho was.

"You're still a bit warm." Shiori spoke after placing her hand on Kurama's forehead. "You should get back in bed and rest."

"Mother, that's the nurse's job, besides I'm eighteen, going on nineteen." Kurama groaned a little, but enjoyed having his mother there with him.

"Just because you're over eighteen doesn't mean I can't take care of my baby. I'm your mother and you're sick, it's only natural for me to take care of you."

"I know, mother, but…if Yusuke visits could you give me and him some time to talk alone?"

"I guess so…." Shiori looked at her firstborn son curiously. Something worried him, she could tell, but he hadn't told her anything yet—there were some things in his life he was so secretive about. But he had never given her anything to worry about until that incident nine months ago when Kurama attempted to take his own life.

When Shiori found out what her son had tried to do, she was frantic, devastation shook her as she struggled to figure out why her son would attempt such a thing. She hadn't believed it was Shuuichi until she saw him at the hospital, in one of those beds, bandages around his wrists. Hiding her terror, she had held her son in her arms, telling him it was all right and pleading with him to tell her what was wrong. But he wouldn't tell her, he wouldn't tell anybody, not the doctors nor his friends. Her son had just worn a sorrowful, desolate look on his face refusing to speak—and right now he had that same look on his face.

"Shuuichi, is anything wrong? If there is you can tell me."

"Mother, has Hinansho been to visit lately? I've asked Kuwabara and Master Genkai, but they didn't tell me anything."

"I…well, I haven't seen him. He may've visited while I wasn't here during the three days you were unconscious, but I haven't seen him during the last three days."

"He hasn't visited at all, has he? Momma…."

"Shuuichi, I…." Shiori fell silent, seeing the tears fall from her son's eyes, hearing the desperation in his voice. Holding Kurama close to her, Shiori comforted her firstborn unable to stand him being so upset—but his reaction to Hinansho not visiting intrigued her and how Kurama hadn't introduced Hinansho to her intrigued her even more.

"Shuuichi…what are you and Hinansho to each other? Are you friends or…."

"…." Kurama blushed unable to answer his mother honestly, but his blush and embarrassed silence answered for him.

"You could've said something sooner, it doesn't matter who you're with, as long as you care about, and love each other enough. I just want you to be happy."

"Mother." Kurama flung his arms around Shiori, burying his face in her bosom as tears cascaded down his cheeks. "I'm sorry I hurt you, I didn't mean to…distress you. I…."

"Shh…it's okay, Shuuichi, it's okay." Shiori crooned, knowing by the way Kurama was looking at his wrist that he was speaking of his suicide attempt. "You survived, that's all that mattered. You survived then, like you'll survive now."

"It was…I was so upset…my…my…Hiei left…he didn't contact me for three years…and…I…." Kurama sobbed confessing about how much Hiei had hurt him. "…didn't know if he cared…now Hinansho's left too…momma, I don't want to be left again…momma."

"Shh…it'll be all right, Shuuichi, I'm sure Hinansho…." Shiori began, holding her son tightly to her wanting to soothe his pain, when the door opened and Yusuke and Hinansho stepped through. "Shuuichi, your friends are her. Hinansho's here."

"Hi…Hinansho?" Kurama whispered looking up at the doorway, hoping it was true—and it was, Hinansho was here visiting him.

"Shuui-chan…you're crying? What's wrong? You couldn't have thought that I'd leave you." Hinansho stepped up to Kurama, holding out his arms to hold Kurama. "Shuui-chan?"

However, Kurama looked away, refusing to embrace Hinansho, because no matter how much he cared about Hinansho, Kurama realized he cared about someone else even more and the fact that Hiei wasn't here hurt him more than Hinansho's visit helped him. No matter how much he hoped Hinansho could replace Hiei, Kurama knew it wouldn't happen—he was too tied to the fire-demon, and Hiei's absence worried him more than it upset him.

"Shuuichi?" Shiori whispered looking at her son worriedly, wondering why he wasn't happy to see Hinansho.

"Mother, can you leave the room for a few minutes?"

"Sure, Shuuichi." Shiori replied, leaving the room without a word of protest. After Shiori left Kurama turned to look around the room, he had sensed that there was someone new amongst Yusuke and the others—a demon with a strangely familiar aura.

"Shuui-chan? What…?"

"Hinansho, who's the demon behind you?" Kurama asked staring behind Hinansho at what seemed to be empty space except it radiated with demonic aura. At the sound of Kurama's words, the demon behind Hinansho became visible, a look of bewilderment on his face.

"You could sense me?"

"Yes. Who are you?" Kurama asked, knowing by the looks on Yusuke's, Kuwabara's, and Genkai's faces that they knew the demon had been there the whole time, but Kurama didn't know if he should be reassured by that.

"Karaikasai."

"Why did you sneak in?"

"Look at me, I didn't think anyone would let me in. anyway it was the detective's idea." Karai replied pointing to Yusuke.

"Yusuke?"

"Yes, I told him to sneak in because we didn't want Hinansho to know he came."

"What? But why…?"

"Shuui-chan, it's because Karai's my ex-lover and…."

"Wha—? Why is he here if he's your ex?"

"Because I'm technically not his ex, he broke up with my brother disguised as me, not realizing that it wasn't me." Karai replied, looking Kurama over suspiciously. "And by the way you returned his greeting; you didn't want to see Hinansho."

"Wha…I…."

"It's not time for this right now." Yusuke butted in, standing between Karai and Kurama, who looked at each other hatefully. "We need to talk about Karasu right now."

"What? Karasu? You're not saying that he is…alive?"

"He is alive. Karai here was the one who resurrected him."

"WHAT!" Kurama glared at Karai, standing up quickly in an attempt to lunge at him—Kurama's feeling was right, Hiei was in danger and it was all because of this bastard resurrected Karasu. Before Kurama could rip Karai limb from limb, Hinansho grabbed the fox-demon's hands straining to make him relax back on the bed.

"Shuui-chan, please, attacking Karai won't help." Hinansho spoke up, looking from Kurama to Karai, who had held up his left arm to defend himself against Kurama's attempted attack. That motion proved it was Karai, because Karai was completely left-handed and could only move his right arm if he wore an energized arm brace—something Hinansho had realized the imposter hadn't worn when he had attacked him three nights ago with his right arm.

"Hinansho, You'll protect him! You're my lover now, not his." Kurama growled, his Youko self shining in his eyes.

"Urr…yes, I'm your lover, whom you didn't care to greet when I visited just now and whom you failed to mention you liked only because I remind you of someone else." Hinansho lashed, his frustration getting the better of him, he didn't want to be angry but Kurama's failing to greet him, as well as his secrecy as to why he wanted Hinansho to look a certain way, upset the human boy immensely.

"I…who…who told you…that you remind me…of…of…."

"Genkai told me, but I saw him three nights ago when I was attacked."

"You saw…you were attacked?"

"Yes, by Karasu disguised as Karai. Your buddy was with him as well."

"Wha…Hiei? Hiei was with Karasu?"

"Yes."

"No." Kurama whispered, a sick horrible feeling rising in his stomach—Hiei was in trouble, terrible, horrible trouble and Kurama needed to help him.

Seeing Kurama's horrified expression, Hinansho put his arms on the fox-demon's shoulders, in an effort to calm him. However Kurama narrowed his green eyes glinting yellow from his Youko form, and growled hating being held back.

"Hinansho…."

"Shuui-chan."

"Get away from me." Kurama growled, hitting Hinansho across the face, sending the human boy to the floor, the Karai grabbed Kurama's arm, his left hand squeezing Kurama's right in a steel-like grip. "Let go of me."

"How dare you hit Hinansho." Karai growled his good right eye narrowed to a slit, his mouth twisted into an angry snarl. "I'll not tolerate it." Karai bend Kurama's wrist, attempting to break it, however Yusuke stepped in to stop Karai—however he hadn't much luck loosening Karai's grip on Kurama's wrist.

When it seemed Karai was going to snap Kurama's wrist, he let go flinching in pain himself, quickly turning to his right side where Hinansho squeezed his right arm (It was much weaker than his left). Seeing that Karai had let ho of Kurama's wrist, Hinansho released his grip on Karai's arm looking up at the demon with pleading emerald eyes.

"Hinansho…."

"Don't hurt Shuui-chan, please."

"But…but…he…." Karai stammered, looking from Kurama to Hinansho, his anger weakening seeing Hinansho's pleading eyes, his trembling lips. Slowly Karai stepped away from the bed, sitting down on the floor in a corner of the room, his face an expressionless mask, cradling his right arm with his left.

"Karai, I'm sorry if I hurt you, but I couldn't bear you hurting Kurama." Hinansho knelt down next to Karai, who turned away when Hinansho tried to peer into his face. "Karai…."

"Forget about him." Kurama muttered massaging his wrist, checking for any injuries Karai's grip could've cause, ignoring the soreness of his skin and muscles. Reassured that none of his bones were broken, Kurama stood up, observing Hinansho's saddened, worried face without emotion. "Tell me more about that night you saw Hiei with Karasu, Hinansho."

"Why should I?" Hinansho replied, not looking at Kurama, an undertone of anger rising in his voice. "He's the one who attacked me first."

"No, you lie." Kurama froze hearing Hinansho's words, denying that Hiei would attack Hinansho.

"It's the truth. He was working with Karasu, though I'm not sure he knew the true identity of his partner." Hinansho finally looked into Kurama's eyes, shocked to see a flicker of emotion in the fox-demon's eyes; Kurama seemed unable to hide all of his emotion behind a stoic mask right now.

"I…we need to find Hiei now." Kurama spoke worry in his voice, desperately looking around the room at each person, trembling a bit as he did so. "We must…." Gasping for breath, Kurama collapsed, falling to the floor while everyone in the room tried catching him—Hinansho ended up catching him in his arms, placing his hand on Kurama's forehead to feel his temp.

"He's burning up! Get the doctor!" Hinansho shouted to Yusuke who rushed out to get the doctor, and Kuwabara helped Hinansho get Kurama back in bed, looking worried as he stared at the fox-demon.

"Kurama…."

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