I consider ATLA one of THE best american cartoons ever. It was something worth waiting for in spite of the unheard of airing schedules and the mind-numbing, gut-wrenching, hair-pulling delays.

But the last episode was quite frankly, rather sadistic of Mike and Brian. Why?

Both of them are whom i consider one of the most intelligent, original, refreshing writers/producers of american animation i've seen so far and therefore knew exactly what they were doing. For the last few episodes at least, they've been throwing the type of subtle hints that SCREAM at you regarding Zuko and Katara.

They knew full well how so many fans waited for YEARS to see Zutara happen and milked that fact for all its worth, especially with the last few episodes giving special emphasis on both Zuko and Katara ALONE and TOGETHER.

Then, all of a sudden, seemingly out of a whim, they ruin one of the most interesting possible plotlines in the entire story. I'm sure that i'm not alone when i say that at that point in time i went like, "what the !@#!?@!, what the !@?#$@?!, WHAT THE !@?#!@?#!?" Its like they derived some sort of sick joy in leading them on for years and then purposefully disappointing a huge number of fans just for the heck of it. And i mean it when i say that they did it all in a whim.

Two scenes.

IN JUST TWO scenes of the last half of the last episode, they ruined the story for many fans. The one with Zuko and Mai alone and the very last scene between Aang and Katara. Take those two scenes out or change it slightly, and you would have an entirely different conclusion altogether.

Obviously i'm a Zutarian, but Kataang would have been forgiveable if only they TOOK THE TIME AND EFFORT TO DO IT RIGHT.

They did a J.K. Rowling on us and gave us a passe, sub-standard conclusion to an otherwise increadible journey.

For many ATLA fans, myself included, there will be no closure.

Therefore, to show my utterly profound disappointment with Mike and Brian, i will NOT watch the AVATAR movie. If the story is based on the events of the series, then why would i allow myself to be disappointed a second time?

So let me get some things straight.

1. You didn't think there was any build-up for kataang, despite episodes like The Fortuneteller,Cave of Two Lovers, The Headband, Ember Island Players and not to mention countless other scenes within episodes.

2. You thought there were strong hints given that zutara was going to happen despite the creators saying on numerous occasions that they never intended any form of zutara.

3. You feel the finale was ruined because zutara didn't happen despite the fact that shipping made up a maximum 0f 5 minutes of the 92 minute movie.

4. You feel INSULTED that zutara didn't happen, as if the fact that the creators didn't cater to your over-inflated wish-fulfillment complex is some form of personal insult to you.

5. You think that Bryke should have made zutara happen because it's what the fans wanted despite the fact that they're here to tell THEIR story and not the one the fans want.

6. You plan to BOYCOTT the Avatar live-action movies for no reason other than the fact that zutara didn't happen.

7. You think that Bryke were being SADISTIC by not making zutara happen, as if they were building up zutara from the start only to pull it away at the last second.

8. You think that kataang happened 'on a whim' despite being built-up since pretty much day 1.

Do I even need to say it? The thing that really bugs me about your post is that you said you were INSULTED. How can someone possibly take shipping so seriously they'd be INSULTED if their ship didn't happen? It's not like Aang made some racist joke at the end, it's JUST SHIPPING. How can you possibly feel INSULTED over the fact that your ship didn't happen? It's mind-boggling.

Yes, I can just picture Bryke now. "Zutara will happen... Psyche!"

I admit that the Kataang was a little unsatisfying. And the Avatar State was fixed by just shoving a rock in there. Go figure.

That's as far as I will go towards agreeing with you. As far as I'm concerned, Bryke have charitably provided Zutarans with a great deal of footage for their AMVs. Now they aren't limited to showing two unrelated scenes and pretending that Zutara is more than just delusion.