the more i think about it the more i don't get what ka shippers are so panty-twisted about because the live action has actually served kat.aang so much better than the original ever did:
aang is an infinitely more likeable character: maintaining his cheerful, kind, slightly childlike disposition while still being able to accept responsibility, hold himself accountable for his mistakes, and try to learn and grow from them. this version of aang actually feels like he would be mature enough to handle a relationship with katara.
katara no longer has to shoulder the sole burden of aang's emotional well-being, often at her own cost, and is able to confront and argue with aang as an equal. this stands s3 live action kat.aang in such good stead because it removes the extremely uncomfortable implication that katara ended up with aang in large part because she was never able to prioritize herself and her needs over his desires
aang seemingly only developing feelings for katara in s2 gives the relationship a legitimate claim to the friends-to-lovers trope ka shippers claim it is, because they genuinely were only friends first rather than Love at First Iceberg Crack followed by three seasons of trying to get out of the friendzone
the little hints of aang crushing on katara are actually very cute, and gordon plays those moments with an endearing awkwardness that makes them very charming. i found myself genuinely smiling at the scene where they're attending the earth king's party and he gets flustered when katara has to hold his arm and tells her blushingly that she looks nice. that's the most positive i've felt about kat.aang as a ship since i first watched the original cave of two lovers.
the live action has the significant and distinct advantage of not needing to watch a teenage girl flirting and making eyes at a prepubescent boy. thank you to the natural process of human growth and aging for sparing us all.
don't get me wrong, there's nothing about live action kat.aang that's particularly interesting or exciting, but - unlike the original - they're non-offensive and pleasant enough that i wouldn't mind them ending up together (just no kiss. please. one cringey makeout scene was enough.) in fact, i actually think live action zuko is the character who's being done dirty in comparison to his animated counterpart, and natla zutara doesn't capture what made animated zutara so compelling, but see how some of us aren't whining about that all over twitter and tiktok?
gummygunk
dailybridgerton
stormborns
annaxmalina
turnnoffyourmind
