An Evaluative Approach to 'Zutara'
Avatar the Last Airbender is a popular animated series co-created and produced by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. Running from February 2005 to July 2008, the show gained a sizeable fan base, including teenagers and adults, despite being aired on the children’s network, Nickelodeon. It takes place in a world where people are divided into four nations, each aligning with one of the four major elements: earth, fire, water, and air. Certain individuals are born with an ability to control one of these elements, a talent referred to as “bending.” The “Avatar” is a reincarnated soul, able to control all four elements and tasked with the duty of maintaining peace. Avatar centers around a 100-year war between nations, with the Fire Nation being the main antagonist, and follows the current Avatar, Aang, as he struggles to master the elements. Two of the most important parts of the show are the depth of its characters and the relationships they formed. Viewers especially took interest in the romantic relationships in the series, sparking much debate about the “canon,” or official, couples. The most highly discussed debate is whether Katara, one of the main characters, should’ve ended up with Zuko, the fire nation prince, rather than Aang.
