AVATAR NYCC Season 3.5 Trailer & Toon Zone Interview
A Zutarian’s Analysis

***Contains Spoilers, Random Acts of Spazzing, and Zutara Fangirl Opinions***

First of all, if you haven’t read MizSweet’s analysis, you should, cuz I agree with a lot of her stuff and this is only going to add to it and probably repeat some of it. So, yeah, check out her stuff! The link is in the description.

The first order of business is to define what CANON means and why Zutara IS in fact CANON, according to how present Avatards use it. I have looked up definitions of CANON and here is what I found:

> "Canon" is a term used by fans of anime and manga. Two characters that end up as a couple in the end of a series is considered canon.

> Default pairings, often used to describe pairings in fanfiction that are claimed to be obvious. In other words, a couple that is heavily promoted or suggested in the show.

> Another word for official.

Ok…from these definitions, we can call Kataang CANON because it has been promoted in the show, and yet has it? The truth is that most of the promoting comes from Aang’s side of the story. So, then what really is CANON in terms of Avatar? Let’s think logically about it, shall we?

SUKKA (Suki + Sokka) is considered CANON because they actually have a romantic relationship and are together as more than just friends. Their relationship is OFFICIAL, OBVIOUS, and HEAVILY PROMOTED in the show. So, SUKKA is most definitely CANON!

But what about Kataang? Can we call Kataang CANON? The truth is that if we call Kataang canon then we MUST call Zutara canon because both currently stand in the same position. Kataang is OBVIOUS but not official, meaning it hasn’t happened. Zutara is HEAVILY PROMOTED but not as obvious as Kataang and also hasn’t happened. (If you don’t believe me about the heavily promoted, then watch my Zutara Evidence Series, cuz it is true!)

Looking from the hug and onward, both sides are currently standing at a friendship crossroad.

After the hug, or even before it, Zuko and Katara will become friends, this much is OBVIOUS.

And Kataang? Katara and Aang have been friends from the beginning but nothing has become official.

So, with both relationships being on the friends level, aren’t they both CANON? Neither one is official yet, neither one has ended up as the couple in the end yet, and both have been OBVIOUS and HEAVILY PROMOTED. So, the truth is, if Kataang is CANON, then so is ZUTARA!!!

The term CANON actually means the official couple of the show, the couple that gets together in the end, so either you must call both Kataang and ZUTARA canon or you must only call Sukka canon because that is the only relationship that has been official and has stayed that way throughout the show. As of now, Kataang and Zutara are on equal playing ground as far as the CANON definition is considered. So, enough of the arguing over what is CANON and what isn’t, cuz either way you look at it, BOTH SIDES ARE CANON!!!

*WARNING – RANDOM ACT OF SPAZZING AHEAD*

So, Zutarians, wave your flags high and scream your lungs out cuz we can now say that our ship is indeed CANON! Cuz if Kataang can be called CANON when it is only a friendship, then ZUTARA can be called CANON because it has become a friendship!!! WHOOO-HOOO!!!

*End of Spazzing (for now)*

Now, about the Season 3.5 Trailer! Where to start, where to start?

First order of business must be the Kataang Kiss, and this one was even better than the last one! Now before discussing this kiss in particular, let’s look back on the season and previous trailers, shall we?

*~* Season 3 Trailer *~*

In the first trailer that we were blessed with we saw many disturbing things for Zutara, namely, Maiko. As unsettling as that kiss was, we all knew it would fail from the start. And guess what? It did. How can I say this when we haven’t even see it fail yet? Because if you look at the deeper meanings behind the Maiko relationship, you will see how it could not possibly work. Plus, did anyone else see Mai with the Gang in the trailer? Hmmm…I sure didn’t.

In short, Maiko won’t work because (1) Mai NEVER listens to what Zuko is really saying about his past, his present, his future, his destiny, and what lies in his heart; (2) their relationship is basically on the surface and is used as a comfort for Zuko during the time of his struggle between good and evil; (3) Zuko said it himself that he wants a woman with passion, who speaks her mind (coughkataracough); (4) the connection between Zuko and Katara runs deeper than the Maiko one because they both listened to each other, showed comfort and compassion towards one another, and they could relate on a level that Mai could never do with Zuko; (5) Zuko has changed from the boy he once was to a man ready to fulfill his true destiny of restoring balance to the world, and Mai will not likely want to be a part of this because of not only Azula but also because her passion is shallow and nonexistent and she is not likely to change anytime soon.

In other words, Zutarians, Maiko is dead and gone. It was from the beginning. And this is why the first trailer has significance. In that first glimpse of Season 3 we see Mai and Zuko together kissing, but guess what? Their relationship failed! So, what do we have in the new trailer? Aang kissing Katara. Hmmm…need I say more? I think so!

*~* Nightmares & Daydreams and DOBS Kisses *~*

The thing I LOVE about Kataang is that the creators put their first kiss in a DAYDREAM! They didn’t save it for the finale, and better yet, it wasn’t even REAL. Their first kiss showed how Kataang could have been if Katara showed the same feelings for Aang. It was “cute” how she flung her arms around him and kissed him back with the passion that Aang had been hoping for. But, too bad, it was a dream!

And then we had the DOBS kiss. This was a whopper of a moment that proved to be more valuable for our side than for the Kataang side. The truth is that Aang forced himself on Katara. Yes, I said “forced.” He didn’t politely ask her about their relationship first, he just up and kissed her. And her reaction? It was the direct opposite of his daydream. She didn’t fling her arms around him and kiss him back. She didn’t even show a look of love towards him after he pulled away. Her look was one of embarrassment and guilt over the fact that she didn’t return the feelings. And the other truth is that she had the chance to tell him that she loved him, to give him a smile, a loving look, anything, but she didn’t. Why? Because she doesn’t feel the same way and because Aang has misconstrued her feelings towards him.

*~* Season 3.5 Trailer Kataang Kiss *~*

But if you thought her reaction was bad then, it is even worse now. In the DOBS kiss, she didn’t pull away, she let Aang kiss her, and just looked away in embarrassment. But this time, she quickly pulls back, going into an utter state of shock.

Why is she so shocked after this kiss if he’s kissed her before?

Maybe because it was pretty much the end of the world in DOBS and she thought he was just saying goodbye.

Maybe she has forgotten about the first kiss because they haven’t been together as much and haven’t talked about it, and things immediately turned back to duty and friend mode after the kiss (and if she forgot about the kiss, then it obviously didn’t mean that much to her).

Or maybe now that she is getting closer to Zuko, she realizes that she likes him and therefore is surprised by Aang’s kiss.

It could be any combination of reasons, but any way you look at it, it cannot be good. Not only did she give that look in DOBS, but she pulled away from Aang’s kiss. And pulling away from a kiss so abruptly is rarely a sign of returning feelings.

But the real kicker here is that they SHOWED this kiss! As mentioned above, the Maiko kiss ended in failure, so will the Kataang one? Wouldn’t they NOT SHOW the Kataang kiss if it were to actually work out between them? Wouldn’t they have saved that kiss for the finale? Then why did they show two kisses already? Why did they show a daydream one that didn’t even compare to the DOBS one? And why show this one, in the trailer no less, if they are to be together in the end?

In other words, it kinda kills the climax to show three kisses before the finale. And in this show that is for teens, a kiss is as far as they will go in a relationship. So why show the height of it before the finale? WHY?

Because it is simple really. KATAANG IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY!!! (Feel free to randomly spazz now)

*~* THE ZUTARA MOMENTS COLLAGE *~*

People have been saying that the creators have tricked us before. But have they really? They showed Zuko and Katara together in a cave with her hand on his face. It looked like she was going to heal him, and it got us all wondering. Now at that moment I wasn’t a full-fledged Zutarian, so I wasn’t spazzing like crazy over the fact that Zutara would happen. I was just sorta in the “yeah, Zutara is cool” category of shippers.

Basically, they didn’t trick us. They got us thinking, but they didn’t trick us.

Because the truth is that Zutara DID happen in that episode! They connected and bonded on a very deep level that later brought out more of the angry side of Katara. Why? Because she was hurt bad by this broken connection, and her anger is a sign that it was a deep bond indeed.

*If you wanna know more about this connection, watch Lesson Ten of the Zutara Evidence Series*

So, are they tricking us here? Not Hardly! Why? Because nothing they showed in that trailer is truly surprising to us. Even the hug isn’t all that surprising. It was surprising to SEE, but the CONCEPT of it wasn’t.

Let me explain.

We Zutarians have predicted from the beginning that Zuko would join the Gang. We’ve also predicted that Zuko and Katara would renew that bond and become even greater friends because of that deep connection. So, in essence, all the Zutara moments we saw in the trailer were to be expected because we knew that once Zuko would show his worth and his obvious transformation for Katara to vividly see, she would forgive him.

And what do all of these moments symbolize? Forgiveness and Acceptance. So this bonding was expected and foreseen.

And what happens after Katara forgives someone? We can find a clue in the Jetara relationship.

Looking back on the Lake Laogai episode, we see Katara healing Jet’s mind of the Dai Li’s manipulations, and Jet remembers his story and then goes along with them to find Appa. And directly after this moment, in every scene following, who is Katara standing next to? She is ALWAYS seen with Jet! If you don’t believe me, watch the episode for yourselves. She isn’t by Aang, but Jet! She never leaves his side after that.

And the same thing will happen with Zutara, and it has already been shown in the trailer!

*~* ZUTARA MOMENTS *~*

(In Order)
The HUG
Zuko’s Speech
Ninja Missions (x2)
Daring Rescue
Jun & The Forgiveness Stance
Teamwork Practice

In this whole trailer there is only ONE Kataang moment, that is more of a killer for it than a good thing, but there are SEVEN (God’s Lucky Number) Zutara moments. But none of these Zutara moments are surprising. Why? Because we knew she would forgive him and we knew they would bond once again. And the trailer shows this.

*~* ZUKO’S SPEECH *~*

Aang obviously looks up to Zuko as a father figure and a mentor as shown greatly in The Firebending Masters, but what really intrigues me is how Zuko could see that Aang wasn’t ready. Here’s his line:

“I know you’re scared, and I know you’re NOT READY to save the world, but if you don’t defeat the FireLord before the comet comes, there won’t be a world to save anymore.”

Emphasis on the NOT READY. Zuko knows that Aang is conflicted and feeling like he isn’t ready, much like Nightmares & Daydreams, but is it just because of the mastering of the elements or is it because of something more?

For some reason, the scene showing Aang sitting at Zuko’s beach house on Ember Island speaks one thing to me: YOU MUST LEARN TO LET GO.

Aang looks so somber and serious while sitting there meditating. His expression looks rather sad at the moment, and this is most likely because he had just kissed Katara, she told him the truth, and he is now coming to terms with that and learning to let go. But this is just my own personal theory. Either way, his expression is not one of happiness. Yes, he is serious, but there is something about his eyes and his lips that look even more serious than usual.

Could it be because he has finally learned the truth about Katara’s feelings for him?

*~* NINJA MISSIONS *~*

First there is the Ninja Mission that they go on, ALONE, I might add. And a lot of people are probably wondering who the heck that guy is. Well, the first time I saw this trailer, only one thing popped into my head at that moment. MOTHER’S KILLER.

Who else would go off with Katara to confront her mother’s killer? Sure, Sokka could go, but who was more bonded with their mother? Katara. Sokka has been shown to be more connected with his father, while Katara is more connected with her mother. Funny, but isn’t Zuko the same way?

It has been confirmed that The Southern Raiders episode is indeed about Katara’s mother. And who has connected with her on this level? ZUKO, of course. So who will she confide in the most? ZUKO, of course. And who will she want to take with her on this mission. ZUKO, of course.

Their connection in the Zutara Cave was not just thrown in there as a cute little moment between them. No, it was meant to build, and so it shall throughout future episodes. And this Ninja Mission beautifully shows how much she trusts Zuko with this part of her past, with this pain and grief in her heart. Furthermore, it is because they can both relate to each other on this level and share openly about their pasts that their friendship will grow upwards from this bond. And as shown in the clips, they have come to a mutual understanding and can now work together as friends and confidants.

And on another totally side-tracking note, anyone else see Katara’s little bloodbending move while in her ninja outfit? There is a rather quick shot of Katara bringing her hand up to her face and then downward in the same manner that Hama did to her and that she herself did to Hama when bloodbending. Therefore, it is to be concluded that Katara will use bloodbending! And we can all go – SWEET!!!

*~* DARING RESCUE *~*

That rescue was not only one of the coolest things in the trailer and another Zutara moment for us, but it also showed that KATARA DOESN’T HATE ZUKO!!!

Hmmm…and does this rescue look familiar?

Remember the Shirshu beast? Zuko made sure that Katara was safe beside him and wasn’t going to fall off. Sure, she wouldn’t have gone flying through the air to certain doom, but she could have fallen off and gotten seriously injured. So, not only did ZUKO SAVE HER, but SHE SAVED HIM! Guess she wanted him safe beside her just like he wanted her safe beside him. Hmmm…Interesting.

But, more than that, this rescue does answer the question that the Kataangers have been constantly hammering us with. Katara threatened to basically kill him, and when she had the chance to let his destiny end, she didn’t take it, but instead reached out to save him! Why, I wonder? Could it possibly be that she doesn’t hate him as much as we thought she did? Nah, that just can’t be it.

And on another note, why Katara? Why not Sokka? Zuko did save his life after all, so why didn’t Sokka reach out to save him? But if you watch closely, she is already standing up as they approach Zuko, and he is reaching towards her. I guess their friendship runs deep enough for them to choose each other as their first pick when being rescued or doing the rescuing.

*~* TEAMWORK PRACTICE *~*

This is just an awesome scene showing their teamwork, whether it is practicing or an actual trap, it just goes to show that they know how to work alongside each other. And remember the Zutara Fight back in Season One? Back then they learned a lot about each other’s elements, the rise and fall of each, the yin & yang as it were. So now instead of using it to fight against one another, they are circling each other in a beautiful dance of their elements, once again showing the strengths and weaknesses, the rise and fall, the push and pull, the yin & yang – finally working together on the same side!

*~* JUN & THE FORGIVENESS STANCE *~*

JUN, I know thy name well! Definition: Truth, Obedience, Purity, Honesty. Someone also pointed out on my vids that her definitions spell T.O.P.H. LOL! Remember Toph? She can tell when people are lying! Ooooh…sweet! Just something totally off topic that I wanted to add.

Remember this lady? I sure do! And every Zutarian alive should remember her lines!

“What happened? Your girlfriend run off on you?”
“So this is your girlfriend. No wonder she left. She’s way too pretty for you.”

Awww…Jun, our first resident on-screen Zutarian who was just dying to put them together. Okay, just kidding, but her little jibes at Zuko may pay off in the end. After all, she is returning, and seeing as how the first time she saw them together she called them boyfriend/girlfriend, what will happen this time? Will she joke with both of them? Something like, “Well, what do we have here? Looks like the two of you got back together, though I still think she’s way too pretty for you.” I would probably die of a laugh attack at the blush that would follow!

Isn’t it amazing that even the smallest Zutara foreshadowings can come true?

But there is also something else to note in this scene. The Forgiveness Stance. Yes, I have given it a name. Every time we see Katara beside Zuko, it is the Forgiveness Stance just like with Jetara.

So in the background of this scene, Katara is standing next to Zuko. But where is Aang? I see Sokka, Sukki, and Toph, but no Aang. He could be standing by Toph, but that would only give Taangers more to spazz about, which is a GREAT thing! More spazzing never hurt anyone, yet.

All joking aside, Jun has returned, the first one to put Zuko and Katara together as a couple, and on top of that we have yet another scene with Zuko and Katara beside each other. Just another rung in the ladder that is leading to the climax of Zutara!

*~* THE HUG *~*

As explained above, this hug was to be expected because not only does she forgive him but that bond over their mothers will be renewed and made strong once more, creating an even stronger bond in friendship and love.

But there are little things to notice about this hug.

First of all, whenever Aang hugs Katara his arms are always around her shoulders and back, never her waist. This sort of hug displays friendship. Whereas with Zuko, not only does she fling herself on him, throwing her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder, but her expression is one of sadness and sorrow, showing us that this is a hug of “I need you, please comfort me.”

On a totally side-tracking note, remember the Daydream Kataang kiss? Katara flung her arms around Aang and kissed him back! Well, here we see Katara flinging herself at Zuko. Hmmm…Interesting!

Now remember when Katara cried upon discovering that she was a bloodbender and could use this horrible power? The Gang couldn’t stop her tears from falling. But also in this same scene, Aang hugs her with his arm around her shoulders just like a friend.

But with this hug for Zuko, it is much different. He has stopped her tears before, and he’ll surely stop them again. He has also been a comfort to her before, and he knows how to relate to her sorrow. And because of that relation to her pain, he will know better than anyone in the Gang how to wipe away her tears. Yes, better than ANYONE in the Gang, including Sokka. Why? Because like I mentioned before, Sokka was bonded with his father, Katara with her mother. Zuko was just like Katara, so they will understand that same connection and be able to comfort each other on a level that even the Avatar couldn’t relate to.

But what about Zuko? I love his position in this hug just as much as hers! Not only have we never seen Katara hug someone in this way, but we have also never seen Zuko hug another in this way. His arms instantly fly out at her lunge towards him and he rests them nicely around her waist, tilting his head down and closing his eyes in the process. It is the most beautiful picture of Zutara ever seen on Avatar and it is the most compassionate display of affection from Zuko as well.

Once again it shows their bond, their connection through their common grief. What more is there really to say about it? They can relate, and through this hug, we can see that relation take form. Her body language and expression show that she longs to be comforted and understood, while his movements and expression show that he wants to comfort her and relate to her.

This hug nearly completes the beautiful dance of Yin & Yang for where one needs the other, the other is there to comfort them, and thus is the picture of Zutara!

*~* ZUTARA MOMENTS – A TRICK? *~*

Once again we return to why this ISN’T a trick. It is quite obvious really.

The reason this isn’t a trick is because it showed a growing development in their relationship, not a sudden change like that of Maiko in the first Season 3 Trailer. If they had shown a kiss between Zuko and Katara, then I would have probably backed away from Zutara because showing a kiss in a trailer for this show only spells utter doom and defeat. But they didn’t do that.

Instead, the creators chose unique moments that would showcase how Zuko and Katara came to another mutual understanding, how they renewed that bond, how they accepted each other, how they leaned on each other, how they worked and fought together, and how they stood alongside one another in a show of forgiveness and acceptance.

IT WAS NOT ANYTHING UNEXPECTED!!!

Ask yourself this – were you expecting Zuko and Katara to forgive each other, to become friends, to accept one another, and to once again bond through their common pasts? If you answered “yes,” then this trailer shouldn’t have come as a surprise to you. And because it isn’t a surprise, it isn’t a trick either. Yes, it was terribly, spazztasticly awesome to see that HUG, but it honestly didn’t shock me cuz I knew it would be coming eventually, and deep down in your hearts, fellow Zutarians, I know you knew it, too!

So, ask yourselves. What is the real trick here? Is it that all of these Zutara moments are so unexpected and twisted that it could never happen? Is it because the Kataang kiss came as such a shock that it literally blew you away when Katara backed up? Or is it because Toph was only shown twice throughout the whole trailer?

Yes, I’m going there. Just as MizSweet said in her essay, I find I agree with her. There has always been mystery surrounding how Toph came to be with the Gang. Her introduction was like no one else’s, and she continues to stay behind the scenes, seemingly undetected. But what if the real twist isn’t the shippings but instead revolves around Toph? What if something will happen to her? What if something will happen to Aang?

The real kicker here isn’t so much Kataang or Zutara but TOPH! All the Kataang and Zutara moments are to be expected, but no one can even begin to guess what is in store for Toph and even Aang. What will happen to the two of them in the finale? Will they both survive? Will Toph survive? It is hard to say, and this is why I also believe now that the real twist has something to do with Toph’s character as well as Aang’s. It is hard to comprehend, but there is the possibility that she will die in this season. But I guess we’ll just have to watch to find out.

*~* SOKKA’S ROMANTIC RESCUE OF SUKI *~*

I love this scene! It is so sweet and romantic and just perfect! And Sokka, could he get any more hilarious? ROFL!

Ok…on a serious note, through this scene we can see that Sukka is now officially CANON. And I mean REAL CANON! They OFFICIALLY end up together and OFFICIALLY have a romantic relationship, so we can only assume that they are truly CANON! Can I just say – duh!

Although I’ve always had a soft spot for Tokka myself, I still love the Sukka relationship. Because not only is the Sukka relationship just so darn cute, it is also a direct parallel to Zutara. Suki and Sokka started out as enemies of a sort, and once they came to a mutual understanding, they started to like each other. And they even had their teasing, insulting, and flirtatious moments. Hehe.

*~* THE EMBER ISLAND PLAYERS *~*

And this leads me to the teasing and flirting that Zuko and Katara were doing in this episode.

First of all, ever seen the 5-hour long Pride & Prejudice movie? If you haven’t, SHAME ON YOU!!! It is Zutara all the way, and Darcy’s actions speak volumes. But why am I bringing this up? Because Zuko’s actions are just like Darcy’s at one point in this episode, and I LOVE IT!

At one point during the beginning of the show, I believe it is when Sokka points out to Katara that it is them on stage, Zuko’s eyes are focused on Katara. Yes, you could say he was just distracted by Sokka’s movements and wanted to see what was happening. But he doesn’t look back at Sokka. He looks only at Katara. And throughout the rest of the play, his eyes tend to stay fixed on the show and not so much on what the Gang is doing, no matter what sort of movement is going on around him. Most of his attention is on Katara.

But this is just like Darcy in P&P. If you’ve ever seen the long movie, and, yes, it is only in the long movie (the one with Colin Firth), then you’ve probably noticed the way Darcy’s eyes never seem to stray from Elizabeth. Whenever they are in a scene together, my focus is centered on him because it is in the eyes that the audience begins to see his growing affections toward her.

So, I have one word of advice for you, Zutarians. In the next episodes, KEEP YOUR EYES ON ZUKO!!! My prediction is that he will be the first to fall for her, and she quickly thereafter. But how will he show it? In the same way that Darcy did towards Elizabeth. IN THE EYES.

Now onto the little tidbits that I saw.

Obviously Zuko and Katara are getting along because they are sitting beside each other. That is a testament of their friendship and acceptance of one another. And once again, we see the FORGIVENESS STANCE – near each other in yet another scene!

But another thing to notice is that Zuko and Katara are both crossing their arms while sitting there, and they are both rather serious throughout the whole play. And does Zuko have a small grin on his face when Toph is making fun of Katara?

Plus there is also the part with Jet. I wish they had shown Zuko alongside Katara instead of Toph, but still there is the beauty of her bringing up her left arm to cover the side of her face that is viewable by Zuko. Why not the right side of her face? After all, it was Toph that was laughing at her. But, no, she is covering up the left side of her face. And I love the line, “Oh, Jet, you’re so bad.” ROFL! Wasn’t Zuko bad as well? Haha. He still kinda is, only in a good way now. And I love her eye movements. She looks over at Toph and then looks down, almost like she’s trying to avoid a certain someone’s gaze.

“Look! It’s the Great Divide, the biggest canyon in the Earth Kingdom.”
“Nah! Let’s keep flying.”

Gotta love that the creators acknowledge their failures in a comical way!

Zuko: “They make me look totally stiff and humorless.”
Katara: “Actually, I think that actor’s pretty spot on.”
Zuko: “How could you say that?”
Actor Iroh: “Let’s forget about the Avatar and get massages.”
Actor Zuko: “How could you say that?”

Oh, there is so much to see here, where do I start?

First thing’s first. When has Katara ever been the wise-cracking type? She’s never been one to provide witty banter except maybe towards her brother, but that is her brother. With siblings, teasing comes naturally. Trust me, I know. With three brothers, I’ve become pretty good at witty comebacks, and no matter how hard I try to be nice to them, I just can’t help but tease them. LOL!

But when else does teasing come naturally? Easy! When you LIKE someone. And her teasing started way back in The Firebending Masters with one of my favorite lines, “Maybe you’re just not as good as you think you are.” Granted, she did not like him there, I’m not saying she did. In fact, teasing also comes naturally when you don’t like someone, equally shown through the Jetara example.

But if they have reached that common ground, come to an understanding, and are now friends, why does the teasing continue? Because it isn’t just teasing, it is flirting! Why else pick on him? She’s forgiven him by now, so why the teasing? Because it isn’t just a jab at him anymore because of her anger, it is a jab at him to get a reaction. And, guess what? She gets a reaction!

Remember before in WAT and FBM when he would just stand there and take her insults? Not anymore! Their teasing interactions are now two-sided. She teases, he reacts. And so it has evolved from insults and teasing to teasing and flirting. But it isn’t just in the words; it is in the body language.

He doesn’t even directly say that first line to her; it is more out in the open for everyone to hear. But, SHE, of all people, decides to answer! And the whole time he is talking, she is giving him this smug grin that basically shows how much she enjoys teasing him. And when do you enjoy teasing someone? When you are flirting with them because you LIKE them!

And what is his reaction? His eyes bulge out at her reply and he directs the next question to her. In other words, he doesn’t hold back anymore, he reacts! And this reaction shows that their friendship has not only developed, but that he feels comfortable around her enough to counteract her arguments.

And better yet is the reaction after the Actor Zuko says his line. Katara smiles even more teasingly at Zuko as he slumps down in defeat. Yeah, the woman always wins; better get you used to it, buddy! Hehe.

But, seriously, do you remember this same reaction somewhere else?

You got it! The Firebending Masters! Katara asks him, “Oh, yeah, what’s your little form called?” and he replies, “The Dancing Dragon,” while giving the cutest look of defeat that is seen once more in this episode. And guess what? It is not only the same look, but it is the same look after a line from Katara! Go figure!

*~* NEW INTERVIEW WITH CREATORS *~*

Time to discuss the new interview that was taken by Toon Zone News and see how it relates to Zutara and brightens up our futures even more!

TOON ZONE NEWS: You guys have always said you envisioned this series as a trilogy. How deep into the plot did you go when you first started putting the series together?

MIKE DIMARTINO: Storywise, we had figured out kind of the overall arcs of everything. We knew that there was going to be an eclipse, we knew there was going to be kind of a botched invasion, we knew that Aang was obviously going to face Ozai way down the line, and there was this comet coming back and stuff. So we kind of knew the big tentpole moments.

TZN: What about things like Zuko being descended from Avatar Roku?

DIMARTINO: Stuff like that came up more as we developed the storylines and things like that. We certainly hadn't figured out every nuance and every detail of the story.

BRYAN KONIETZKO: The writing staff contributed a lot and helped flesh out a lot of that stuff.

DIMARTINO: Yeah, because when you're writing for 60 episodes, the story ideas we had at first probably made up, like, less than a third of that. That's why you kind of had to build the story. Like, Zuko, we knew, would join the group, but we didn't know exactly when that was going to happen. It turned out to be much later than we had initially thought.

TZN: Does that mean you faked out yourselves with that whole season two finale?

KONIETZKO: No, no not really.

DIMARTINO: By that point, we knew that if he was going to join them, he had to go really bad first, and tick off a lot of people (laughs).

KONIETZKO: It was always our intention to give him the biggest character arc. He had to go through the most change.

In this first exchange, we see them discussing Zuko and his character development. My favorite part of this piece of the interview is the line, “It was always our intention to give him the biggest character arc.” But wait! Isn’t the show called AVATAR? Isn’t it about Aang? Why is the anti-hero getting more development and growth than the Avatar himself? Hmmm…this is rather interesting considering that our modern day culture puts the girl with the anti-hero more often than with the hero, and considering that Zuko has had the most development, why not let him have the girl in the end? Was all of his development really just so he could join the Gang and teach Aang firebending? Or is there something more to his development than meets the eye?

And I also love that they knew at that point that they needed to make Zuko go really bad before he could join. I completely agree. If Zuko had joined them after the Zutara Cave, there would have been a big “What If” hanging over his shoulders. He wouldn’t have experienced what it was like to be back in the Fire Nation, and when it would have mattered most, he would probably have betrayed them, bringing destruction to the Avatar world. So, in essence, his betrayal was a good thing, not only for his development, but also for Zutara’s development. Because of his betrayal, their bond can grow even stronger through redemption and forgiveness.

TZN: What was the biggest element to the show that you hadn't envisioned when you started it?

KONIETZKO: Toph being a girl, probably (both laugh). She was going to be a big, muscular guy, which is why that joke from the panel is funny to us (referring to the upcoming "The Ember Island Players" episode -- ed). In fact, the guy in the opening title sequence, the Earthbender, was kind of a prototype of Toph, but Aaron Ehasz, the head writer, just really pitched that she should be a girl. And actually, I fought it for a long time, but I totally came on board, and now she's one of my favorite characters. Once I was on-board, Mike and I came up with this idea that she was beating up all these big wrestler-type guys, and now I love her. I love that she's just a tiny, 12-year old girl that kicks butt.

So, if Toph was originally supposed to be a guy, does that throw Taang out the door? Hmmm…maybe, maybe not. They changed their minds with Toph, so changing her from a guy to a girl must have really moved the story around a bit. Plus, as seen above, they didn’t have every nuance and situation figured out. They had the big moments, but what about the romance? Did they have the end of that figured out completely? Were they really planning for Kataang or had they not thought about it as much?

Remember the beginning of Season One, those first few episodes? It basically showed Aang as a goofy little kid and Katara as a motherly figure towards him. Aang seemed to like her, but as of yet, he hadn’t developed a crush on her. And this is even proven through the Jet episode. Aang didn’t seem to mind then that she was with another guy, so had the creators really planned for Kataang at that moment in time, or did they suddenly see Zutara when it hit them hard with the Necklace, The Waterbending Scroll, and The Fortuneteller? Notice how The Waterbending Scroll and Jet both come before The Fortuneteller where we get the first real glimpse of Aang’s crush towards Katara. Interesting.

Maybe Zutara did come first!

DIMARTINO: And I never would have thought that the potential Katara/Zuko romance was going to be so ... you know, so big for people? Because honestly, that wasn't our intention from the start (laughs).

KONIETZKO: We knew about it...

DIMARTINO: We knew there would be some tension, but it wasn't like we were going to play that up too much, so it's cool to see people getting into that romance stuff.

KONIETZKO: I think we've met some people where when he has her necklace in episode 109, people were like, "Oh, they're going to get together." (laughs) We were like, "Whoa! You guys are jumping ahead!" But, whatever...people see what they want to see.

“That wasn’t our intention FROM THE START.” Notice the last bit of that line? In other words, it is possible that they didn’t have the whole romance planned out from the beginning, but they knew the POTENTIAL ones!

They call Zutara a POTENTIAL ROMANCE. Hmmm…remember what they called Kataang? “Oh, THAT ROMANCE.” Haha! Sorry, but I love that they put “potential” in front for our ship!

But what does the “potential” mean? It means that they were considering Zutara! It means that they had seen the POTENTIAL of it from the start but that they didn’t expect it to explode so soon and get so BIG right away. But it did!

And also this line could be referring to the fans’ reactions to the Zutara element and not so much about the consideration of Zutara. In other words, Zutara was planned from the start, but they didn’t intend for it to be so big at the beginning, to be so stressed in the First Season.

Then they mention the thing about tension and how they WEREN’T going to play it up too much. WEREN’T is past tense, so what does that mean? THAT THEY HAVE PLAYED IT UP! This is a good thing! If they’ve played it up, then they not only recognized the full potential of Zutara, but they also considered Zutara to be a romance in the show!

“We KNEW about it…” This is a great line as well because it shows that they actually had considered Zutara from the beginning! But like they said, they didn’t intend to play it up so big at the beginning of the show, but what about towards the end?

One of the questions I am asking myself right now is – why did they create the mother similarity between them? In the first season, there was no mention of Zuko’s mother, and then suddenly Zuko and Katara not only share that yin/yang in elements but also in their personalities and the past.

Remember what they said in that interview?

“Yeah, Aang-Katara, that romance. Some stuff developed along the way, and we're glad some fans are more receptive to that element of the show, but it was in the DNA of the thing from the start.”

Some stuff developed along the way for Kataang, so that must mean that some stuff developed along the way for Zutara as well. And as you can clearly see, Kataang “was in the DNA (oh, look at THAT LINE!!!) FROM THE START!” Haha! So, really, both Zutara and Kataang were there from the beginning! But did they have the ending planned out yet?

Remember what else they said in that last interview?

“I think it's important to note one thing I have heard from the internet is that some fans have the idea we've put shipping into the show because they've asked for it...requested it.”

They said that they didn’t put any of these “shipping” things in because we requested it, meaning that the ending was in their hands NOT OURS! But does this mean they didn’t hear us? I don’t believe so.

I believe that this truly means that both Kataang and Zutara were on equal playing ground from the beginning of the show. Bryke said that they had the story planned out as far as the actual plotline, but the romance? The romance is actually a backdrop story to the real design. YES, this is true! The romance takes a backseat to the real story of Avatar. So, did they have it planned out or did they see the POTENTIAL for one over the other and start playing up one more than the other?

This leads me back to the mother similarity. We never saw her until Zuko Alone, and then suddenly we can draw this amazing connection between Zuko and Katara and how both of their mothers were taken away from them. Just like Toph being a 12-year-old girl would have changed the story, I believe this would have drastically affected the story as well.

So, we have to wonder – did they add this element to Zuko’s past because they saw the true potential of Zutara and wanted it to end that way, or were they adding that to just trick us? The trick seems rather impossible given that the mother connection to Zuko is a BIG element of the show aside from the Zutara elements of it! It gave us a scenario of how Ozai became FireLord over Iroh and it also showed us Zuko’s deep love for his mother and even his desire to please his father. It also showed us that Zuko was favored by his mother and Azula favored by her father. It drew the connection between Zuko and Azula, showing us how they grew up differently and how they now have entirely different aspects on the war and the struggle between good and evil.

In essence, this mother connection was not just thrown in there on a whim, but thoroughly thought out just like the Zutara Cave. But it was because they made this mother connection that they could further connect Zuko and Katara together. So still I ask – why put this in? They could have made up another story entirely, but instead they made it Zuko’s mother who helped Ozai get the throne, which earned her banishment away from her son, thus creating this amazing connection between Zuko and Katara!

So…did they change things as they went along? Were Kataang and Zutara on equal playing ground from the start until they saw the explosion of Zutara and recognized the potential of the romance?

Surprisingly though, there is even another element to Zutara that unbelievably involves Aang! Notice how at the end of Season Two, Bryke not only added the deep bond between Zuko and Katara, but they also added in the struggle with Aang’s obsession over Katara. They had the Guru explicitly say, “YOU MUST LEARN TO LET GO!” Why add in this struggle? Not only does it put both sides on an even fighting ground, but it was another rung on the ladder towards Zutara!

They didn’t just put this in there for the heck of it! They put it in there to build tension. Remember, they said they didn’t play up the tension too much at the beginning, but come the Second Season, holy monkey feathers! There is so much tension between Zuko and Katara as well as with Zutara vs. Kataang. It was a beautiful buildup that left us all wondering if our ships were dead or alive and kicking.

And then in enters Season Three and it seems to start off with Kataang having the upper hand what with The Headband and The Avatar and The FireLord. But WAIT!!! Bryke did not disappoint us for they showed us Zuko’s unending battle between good and evil, the obvious failure of Maiko, and even The Painted Lady episode!

And now with this interview, I’m wondering about the beginning of Season Three and how it started out rather Kataangish. It was like the beginning of Season Two all over again. It starts out with Kataang but ends in Zutara! Once we hit around the midway point in Book Three, things began to switch to our side. And get this! The same thing happened in Seasons One and Two!

In Season One we got The Waterbending Scroll, Jet, The Fortuneteller, The Blue Spirit, The Storm, and the Season Finale Siege of the North. In Season Two we got the teaser episode The Cave of Two Lovers at the beginning to keep us going strong and then later we have Zuko Alone, Bitter Work, Lake Laogai, The Earth King, The Guru, and finally The Crossroads of Destiny. It is mostly around the middle of the season and near the end when things start to turn towards Zutara.

So, where am I going with all of this? To make a long analysis short (too late), it is clear that both Kataang AND ZUTARA were part of the show from the start. Did they have it planned out entirely? Who knows! Maybe they did, maybe they didn’t. Either way, they have made some pretty convincing connections between Zuko and Katara, and it begs the question – did they see the POTENTIAL and choose to follow it, connecting the dots as we did?

Well, I’ll gladly answer that question! YES!!! I believe they have!!!

On another note, as the Triumvirate of Doom stated in one of their podcasts, Season One Zutara evidence was pretty upfront and in your face with the engagement necklace, The Waterbending Scroll, the fight, the Yin/Yang, Jun’s reference to them being a couple, and more. But in Season Two, they kinda backed up a bit. Why? Because Zutara had exploded by then and it just keeps exploding! As they say here in this interview, “You guys are JUMPING AHEAD!”

What does that mean? Well, think about it! If we are jumping ahead in the storyline, then that means ZUTARA IS AT THE END!!! By then Zutarians were already saying that they were going to get together and here Bryke is saying that at that point, we were looking too far ahead because Zutara would happen farther into the story, like in the Series Finale.

But, also, seeing as how there is a big possibility that the romance wasn’t even fully planned out at the beginning of the series, they might also be saying this because of the fact that it wasn’t planned. So, we are JUMPING AHEAD to conclusions that it will end in Zutara. But it was our JUMPING AHEAD that showed them how much we wanted it!

So…did they change it? Was it Zutara from the beginning or was it Kataang from the beginning or was it neither? I guess we’ll never know until the end. But coupling these interviews together shows that both Zutara and Kataang were there FROM THE BEGINNING, now we just need to know THE END!!!
But my money’s on Zutara! The connections have been greater, more in-depth, built upon more tension, beautifully laced with the rest of the plotline, and just so dang cute it ain’t even funny! Yeah, Zutara, it is the real deal! And whether we changed their minds, they saw the potential, or it was the thing from the start, I can honestly and 100% say that ZUTARA IS GONNA HAPPEN!!!