Ok, I made this post towards the end of the other thread that got locked (#3), and it sucks to post a message only to have it be the last on the current page, because it won't get as many views! hehehe

I'm practically new to the board (like 5 messages and counting...), but I'd like to share my views on the whole Kataang relationship that has developed in the Avatar series, and why I think it should (or is going to) happen...as well as Maiko or Maizu, whatever you guys call it.

First of all, I don't think the writers put "useless" stuff into the series. I'd like to think everything is there for a reason. And it looks like they've spent their time and energy developing the Katara & Aang "pure love" (as I like to call it) relationship as well as the Mai & Zuko "childhood sweetheart" relationship.

I think it's a great opportunity for the writers to develop the relationship between Zuko and Mai, now that Zuko has joined the good guys (especially Mai's character). I don't know if someone has already mentioned it, but Mai still lives in the Fire Nation (right across from the palace if I remember correctly), and she still has some "loyalty" towards Azula.

Imagine the conflict inside Mai when she has to face Zuko somehow, someway--I mean, there has to be another sort of final "invasion" at the Royal Palace, where the final showdown will take place. Mai will be confronted with taking the decision to fight against her childhood love, (whom if you remember, were always mocked and bullied by Azula as kids) or betray her friend Azula and join the gaang as well so she can be together with Zuko. I mean, they even made it a point to show that Mai was kind of "emotionless" in The Beach. This could prove a very good opportunity to convey the idea that there is good in [almost] all people and that love can triumph over anything.

On the other hand, we have Katara and Aang, whom the writers have developed into this "cute" couple who love each other somewhat "silently". I really don't think that they would have wasted so many precious moments between them in all of the 3 seasons to just end up with a Katara/Zuko relationship. Remember that the target audience of Avatar is supposedly kids between 6 and 13 (even though many grownups such as myself have become diehard fans--Avatar really has things beyond what a kid can grasp). I don't think they wouldn't want to break a lot of hearts with an ending in which the hero of the story does not "win the girl" he loves like no other person--and worse, to lose her to a bad-guy-turned-good.

I wouldn't even consider the possibility of Aang dying at the end. It would just be too shocking for anyone regardless of age. Although it has crossed my mind, the thought of Aang having to "fight" Zuko yet again for the love of Katara, after the war is over and Lord Ozai is defeated, but that seems like a too complicated plot for a cartoon in which the central point is defeating the "bad guys" and restoring peace to the world (and knowing there are only 8 chapters/episodes left).

What do you think?

(You can tell I'm partial to Kataang )

N SHORT: The writers/creators as well as Nick, have the chance to make this one of the greatest stories ever told, an epic one, if they just follow what they've been doing since episode 1: Materialize the love between Katara and Aang! I really think they would destroy an amazing tale by pulling some relationship out of thin air for the last 8-9 episodes (i.e. Zutara).