| zukone wrote: |
| When looking at the bending, the visual display of element vs the bender might also give an indication of who is the better bender. In other words when someone bends, what do you see? Do you see the person, or do you see the bending. The writers know what they are doing. The visual is linked intrinsically to the plot and speaks what words don't. |
Funny you mention that.
Jeong Jeong created a wall of Fire to stop Zhao. Which would count as a pretty big display of power.
Zhao walked right through it effortlessly, an even greater display of control over fire.
Zuko then owned his sorry ass in SotN, including countering and smacking away is fire attacks.
Meaning Zuko's Bending Power > Zhao > Jeong Jeong
| : |
| For Zuko, I always see him and his fighting. I almost feel as if the bending is not as important. For Jeong Jeong, a true master, I see the fire and his bond with it so apparently. His displays were incredible. For Katara, even excluding her boost in the north, I always see the bending. I can say it was comparable, visually, to her master's. (I am not referring to power and true mastery. I'll leave the argument of whether or not she is a master behind.) |
What exactly did Jeong Jeong do to deserve such credit, make the flames on candles turn big and create a wall of fire, thats about all he's done.
None of this comes close to Zuko's display of actually creating fire while under water and creating solid knives. These 2 things require far more control and skill then creating huge fireballs.
And saying Katara comes within a fraction of her masters bending level is already giving her too much credit, she has done half the tricks he showed in their match, and then there was also the fact that he wasn't even serious at the time.
| : |
| While we talk about versatility and we can create a list for both, even if the numbers are lob-sided, Katara's displays have been more impressive. Furthermore, there is no indication as to which level each bending technique is save for some. So, if one has more techniques than another it does not necessarily mean that he or she is the better bender. The scope and range of Katara's bending is farther than Zuko's WITHOUT a boost. Finally, the amount she bends in comparison to Zuko also appears to be more. That may just be the nature of fire and water. However, in this analysis, it seems significant. |
Katara spends 90% of fights using the Water whip, with the occasional ice and shield here and there. And of course she spends more of the fight bending, she can't fight without it, she quite literally stated she felt completed helpless last time she lost her bending. Zuko is a warrior, he's been trained not to solely rely on his bending, he's been trained to use the two side by side in fights, just like Aang is shown to do.
| : |
| It just seems apparent to me, someone who is not attached more to one character over the other, who the better bender is. There is no bias. I believe that most, I will not say all, people who argue that Zuko is the better bender, have been clouded by their love for the character. Of course, and I don't know how many times I will say this, I am talking about bending and bending alone. I am not talking about fighting. Zuko is, by far, the better overall fighter. |
I'm not attached more to any charater, I'm saying he has some very impressive feats under his belt that most tend to ignore when saying he's a poor bender.
Funny part is also that Zuko has learned to use his feet and even his nose to bend, like Aang and Toph,yet Katara is completely dependant on her hands, as shown by Mai pinning her arms to a tree and leaving her helpless.
I sincerly doubt water is the only form that can only be done with your arms.
