WARNING//Read if you want to get spoiled about the Avatar Finale, don't read if you don't want to get spoiled...It's as simple as that.
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Well, it's been inevitable to avoid all the spoilers,(at least for me) that are about the Avatar Finale. The final shipping is revealed in this book as well. Guess what the results are? ... Kataang and Maiko.
Now, I've been a Zutarian for a while, but I even know when to drop it when it comes to shipping wars. Yes, Kataang and Maiko kind of gross me out, and for very silly reasons too; Aang and Katara are just soooo young that it looks...weird, and almost pedo-ish. Being hypocritical though, look at the age difference between Katara and Zuko. Pretty much the same thing but more mature in age. They are all children and teens getting paired together!!! Kataang...I have no doubt when they are older that they will look like a really cute couple. Maiko: Mai pretty much has a rotten personality and I just didn't want to add more negativity to Zuko's dark emo cloud by making them a couple. Silly right? Yes.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
I like Zutara for some of those shallow reasons, but there are so many more complex reasons that I love it as well.
But what I think Mike and Brian are trying to get across is that this is show is for sure targeted for the 6-10yr old age groups. And as such, they wouldn't put anything in there that would...I don't know how to put this, disturb a younglings' mind. Zutara may be just too epic for most little to children to handle. These kids are not watching for the shipping! They want to see the world get saved!
What can be considered amazing though is that this show has captured peoples hearts of all age groups. Again, emphasis on KIDS! I think some of us have forgotten that this show really is for KIDS! However, there have been so many teen/adult undertones in this show that we can't help but see them and wish for more. This show is so good that shipping wars have become intense and interesting, but I'm sorry I must say, a bit extreme.
Even in an interview, Mike and Brian said, 'Come on, kids! "Zutara" never would have lasted! It was just dark and intriguing.' Exactly! It is dark and intriguing. If this show were made for a different demographic, I have no doubt that Zutara would prevail. Because all the elements (lol literally fire and water ) are there to create such a story. Just look what happened to the Spike/Buffy ship in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Spike and Buffy are polar opposites; human and vampire, a slayer and vampire, enemies. It was dark and intriguing. And yes, it became canon! That show is definitely NOT for little children!

A word to all Zutarians who feel the world is at an end because their ship isn't canon, GROW UP!!! It's a cartoon for goodness sake!!!

Ironic that what you like in the show are the more mature ideas and undertones, but you act so childish if things don’t go your way. It's really getting ridiculous. Don't let a SHIP stop you from watching this amazing show! So what if your ship isn't canon, there is still fanon--the fanart, the fanfictions, etc. Let Zutara live in you through that!
FIN
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Elo