#pema

You know, the atla-verse really does present a pretty bleak concept of marriage. It makes characters disappear into the shadows of their spouses, erases their histories and cultures from the consciousness of their descendants, reduces their individual contributions into footnotes. None of Tenzin's children seem to identify with the Southern Water Tribe at all, or even feel particularly close to Katara. We know absolutely nothing about Pema's background that isn't just bonus lore for her husband. Baatar Sr. is treated like a cute accessory to Suyin and his one nonbender child treats being like him as a fate worse than death. The sum of it all is kind of horrifying if you really think about it. Honestly, it seems like all the single adult characters in the franchise dodged a major Bryke bullet.