Okay, character development. Character by character.

Toph
Toph appears to have had the least amount of character development in the main gaang. (3 stooges aside) She started off as a headstrong badass chick, and that's what she is now. The only real c-dev. she's had was with the issue with her parents. I think The Runaway does a better job of explaining that than I can.

Katara
Personality wise she's had little character development. She started off as a caring, optimistic girl with a temper, and she still is. What has developed is her bending. She started off as a total n00b, but as she progressed, trained and worked hard her skills improved. She's now a 1337bender.

Sokka
Sokka has had plenty of c-dev. Sokka started out as a sexist idiot with no fighting skills or belief in the supernatural. Now, Sokka is a mighty warrior, a 'water tribe genious' and possesses such knowledge of the supernatural he planned an entire invasion based on a cosmic event. (not to mention, he planned an entire invasion) In short, Sokka rocks.

Aang
He began as a fun-loving, immature airhead. Now Aang, after learning three more elements, is as mature as any adult. He's responsible, honest, serious and powerful, and at the same time he's a kid. I love that in Aang, he's just like me in that sense. (not to mention he scored with an older chick. Way to go Aang!)

Zuko
By far the most character development out of any character, except maybe Aang. Zuko started off as a narrow-minded, confused villain. Thanks to Iroh he's a hero in charge of his own destiny, and doesn't need to take orders from anyone, and doesn't need daddy's love to be happy. There's not much to say really, he turned from evil to good, and it took a helluvalong time.

No other characters have really been developed as much as the main 5 that appear in my sig. Mai and Ty Lee turned good, but they didn't really develop as much as the gaang. They learned each others backstories, but didn't develop as a result. Azula hasn't developed much, I feel she will develop a bit more, but not by much. Her coming insanity will play a part in that fo'sho.

And there you have it. The character development of the main characters.

Iroh hasn't changed. Our perception of him has changed. In 101 we saw him with Zuko and naturally assumed he was the enemy, when really all this time he's been trying to steer Zuko to the side of good.

Iroh's personality has been pretty consistent throughout the series, it's our view of him which hasn't.

Right, good points, well said.

yogi_tulsii wrote:

I disagree about Katara's character development being little. She is always looking to see the good in everyone, but this starts to be tested by Jet's betrayal. When Toph, the complete opposite of her joins the team, she turns little bit more hardened as she is appalled and angry at Tophs behaviour, no matter how hard she tries to reason with herself. Later on, she encounters Jet and her temper blows up, and only after a lot of persuasion does she forgive him. Her character has now developed a temper, and a tendency to hold grudges. When faced with Zuko, she blows up again, and he just sits there, taking it all. When he convinces her he has turn good, she offers to heal his scar, but is betrayed again, and develops a huge grudge at him. Later on, when facing him in the western aair temple, she doesnt forgive him easily nd for the rest of the episodes is mean to him, even after he has proved himself. Clearly, Zukos transformation from evil to good parallels Kataras transformation from good to, well, not so good.