Agreed! It would've been really easy to just make Katara a stock trope; a nagging idealistic party-mom type, like her Ember Island Players' character. But she's not. She has those qualities but also so much more.
My favorite part about her character is her NEED for justice. Her moral fervor as you say. She has this hot-blooded rage against those who have wronged her. Typically, that type of character trait would go to Sokka's character archetype; the boy trying to become a man seeking vengeance for his family. But Sokka's moved on. He's sad about what happened but doesn't harbor the same anger about it. He's 'wise', she is 'immature', the opposite of the typical gender archetypes.
What I like the most about Katara's arc is that it resolves without her having to 'fix' that part of her. In the southern raiders episode, she's on a quest for vengeance. Both Aang and Sokka try to talk her out of it - the 'wise' course of action, but she goes anyway. Typical single-episode character growth arc, right? Character has a want, realizes it's not what she needs, comes back changed for the better.
Surprise! She doesn't kill her mom's killer (because it's a kid's show). BUT she's allowed to not forgive. Her desire for vengeance was not 'incorrect' or something she needs to grow out of. There's no cliche stock 'forgiveness heals the soul'. She forgives Zuko once she realizes he deserves it, and doesn't forgive her mom's killer because he doesn't deserve it. And that's okay.
It's because at any time the most active people on fandoms are teenagers. Anyone with half a brain will always praise katara more than the other characters. Anyways ATLA is such a great written show! One of my all time favorites!
Agreed! It would've been really easy to just make Katara a stock trope; a nagging idealistic party-mom type, like her Ember Island Players' character. But she's not. She has those qualities but also so much more.
My favorite part about her character is her NEED for justice. Her moral fervor as you say. She has this hot-blooded rage against those who have wronged her. Typically, that type of character trait would go to Sokka's character archetype; the boy trying to become a man seeking vengeance for his family. But Sokka's moved on. He's sad about what happened but doesn't harbor the same anger about it. He's 'wise', she is 'immature', the opposite of the typical gender archetypes.
What I like the most about Katara's arc is that it resolves without her having to 'fix' that part of her. In the southern raiders episode, she's on a quest for vengeance. Both Aang and Sokka try to talk her out of it - the 'wise' course of action, but she goes anyway. Typical single-episode character growth arc, right? Character has a want, realizes it's not what she needs, comes back changed for the better.
Surprise! She doesn't kill her mom's killer (because it's a kid's show). BUT she's allowed to not forgive. Her desire for vengeance was not 'incorrect' or something she needs to grow out of. There's no cliche stock 'forgiveness heals the soul'. She forgives Zuko once she realizes he deserves it, and doesn't forgive her mom's killer because he doesn't deserve it. And that's okay.
Yes, I love the Southern Raiders too! I like how the show doesn’t cheapen forgiveness
Katara embodies many of the daoist qualities I admire. I am always reminded of the Bruce Lee quote: be like water - water flows, water crashes.
It's because at any time the most active people on fandoms are teenagers. Anyone with half a brain will always praise katara more than the other characters. Anyways ATLA is such a great written show! One of my all time favorites!